bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ficolin‐1 gene (FCN1) −144 C/A polymorphism is associated with adverse outcome of severe pneumonia in the under‐five Egyptian children: A multicenter study
Authors: Elkoumi Mohamed A. , Abdellatif Sawsan H. , Mohamed Faisal Y. , Sherif Ahmed H. , Elashkar Shaimaa S. A. , Saleh Rabab M. , Boraey Naglaa F. , Abdelaal NourEldin M. , Akeel Nagwa E. , Elhewala Ahmed A. , Mosbah Amira A. , Zakaria Mervat T. , Soliman Mohammed M. , Salah Ahmed , Sedky Yasser M. , Sobieh Alaa A. , Mashali Mohamed H. , Waked Nevin M. , Elshreif Anas M. , Hafez Sahbaa F. , Hashem Mustafa I. A. , Shehab Mohamed M. , Soliman Attia A. , Emam Ahmed A. , Ahmed Abdelrahman A. A. , Fahim Mohamed S. , Elshehawy Naglaa A. , Abdel‐Aziz Marwa M. , Abdou Adel M. , El‐Shehawy Ahmed A. , Youssef Manal A. A. , Fahmy Dalia S. , Malek Mai M. , Osman Sherif F. , Ibrahim Mohamed A. M. , Alanwar Mohamed I. , Zeidan Nancy M. S.
Published: March 2020

Background

Pneumonia is the foremost cause of child death worldwide. M‐ficolin is encoded by the FCN1 gene and represents a novel link between innate and adaptive immunity.

Objectives

To investigate the FCN1 −144 C/A (rs10117466) polymorphism as a potential marker for pneumonia severity and adverse outcome namely complications or mortality in the under‐five Egyptian children.

Methods

This was a prospective multicenter study that included 620 children hospitalized with World Health Organization‐defined severe pneumonia and 620 matched healthy control children. Polymorphism rs10117466 of the FCN1 gene promoter was analyzed by PCR‐SSP, while serum M‐ficolin levels were assessed by ELISA.

Results

The FCN1 A/A genotype and A allele at the −144 position were more frequently observed in patients compared to the control children (43.4% vs 27.6%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.62; [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.18‐2.2]; for the A/A genotype) and (60.8% vs 52.5%; OR: 1.4; [95% CI: 1.19‐1.65]; for the A allele); P < .01. The FCN1 −144 A/A homozygous patients had significantly higher serum M‐ficolin concentrations (mean: 1844 ± 396 ng/mL) compared with those carrying the C/C or C/A genotype (mean: 857 ± 278 and 1073 ± 323 ng/mL, respectively; P = .002). FCN1 −144 A/A genotype was an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes in children with severe pneumonia (adjusted OR = 4.85, [95% CI: 2.96‐10.25]; P = .01).

Conclusion

The FCN1 A/A genotype at the −144 position was associated with high M‐ficolin serum levels and possibly contributes to enhanced inflammatory response resulting in the adverse outcome of pneumonia in the under‐five Egyptian children.
Ab initio folding of a trefoil‐fold motif reveals structural similarity with a β‐propeller blade motif
Authors: Tenorio Connie A. , Longo Liam M. , Parker Joseph B. , Lee Jihun , Blaber Michael
Published: March 2020

Many protein architectures exhibit evidence of internal rotational symmetry postulated to be the result of gene duplication/fusion events involving a primordial polypeptide motif. A common feature of such structures is a domain‐swapped arrangement at the interface of the N‐ and C‐termini motifs and postulated to provide cooperative interactions that promote folding and stability. De novo designed symmetric protein architectures have demonstrated an ability to accommodate circular permutation of the N‐ and C‐termini in the overall architecture; however, the folding requirement of the primordial motif is poorly understood, and tolerance to circular permutation is essentially unknown. The β‐trefoil protein fold is a threefold‐symmetric architecture where the repeating ~42‐mer “trefoil‐fold” motif assembles via a domain‐swapped arrangement. The trefoil‐fold structure in isolation exposes considerable hydrophobic area that is otherwise buried in the intact β‐trefoil trimeric assembly. The trefoil‐fold sequence is not predicted to adopt the trefoil‐fold architecture in ab initio folding studies; rather, the predicted fold is closely related to a compact “blade” motif from the β‐propeller architecture. Expression of a trefoil‐fold sequence and circular permutants shows that only the wild‐type N‐terminal motif definition yields an intact β‐trefoil trimeric assembly, while permutants yield monomers. The results elucidate the folding requirements of the primordial trefoil‐fold motif, and also suggest that this motif may sample a compact conformation that limits hydrophobic residue exposure, contains key trefoil‐fold structural features, but is more structurally homologous to a β‐propeller blade motif.
Engineering a human IgG2 antibody stable at low pH
Authors: Saito Seiji , Namisaki Hiroshi , Hiraishi Keiko , Takahashi Nobuaki , Iida Shigeru
Published: March 2020

IgG2 subclass antibodies have unique properties that include low effector function and a rigid hinge region. Although some IgG2 subclasses have been clinically tested and approved for therapeutic use, they have a higher propensity than IgG1 for aggregation, which can curtail or abolish their biological activity and enhance their immunogenicity. In this regard, acid‐induced aggregation of monoclonal antibodies during purification and virus inactivation must be prevented. In the present study, we replaced the constant domain of IgG2 with that of IgG1, using anti‐2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP) IgG2 as a model antibody, and investigated whether that would confer greater stability. While the anti‐DNP IgG2 antibody showed significant aggregation at low pH, this was reduced for the IgG2 antibody containing the IgG1 CH2 domain. Substituting three amino acids within the CH2 domain—namely, F300Y, V309L, and T339A (IgG2_YLA)—reduced aggregation at low pH and increased CH2 transition temperature, as determined by differential scanning calorimetric analysis. IgG2_YLA exhibited similar antigen‐binding capacity to IgG2, low affinity for FcγRIIIa, and low binding ability to C1q. The same YLA substitution also reduced the aggregation of panitumumab, another IgG2 antibody, at low pH. Our engineered human IgG2 antibody showed reduced aggregation during bioprocessing and provides a basis for designing improved IgG2 antibodies for therapeutic applications.
Enhancement of Spin Mixing Conductance in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/LaNiO3/SrRuO3 Heterostructures
Authors: Hauser Christoph , Ballani Camillo , Dürrenfeld Philipp , Heyroth Frank , Trempler Philip , Ebbinghaus Stefan G. , Papaioannou Evangelos Th. , Schmidt Georg
Published: March 2020

Spin pumping and the effective spin‐mixing conductance in heterostructures based on magnetic oxide trilayers composed of (LSMO), (LNO), and (SRO) are investigated. The heterostructures serve as a model system for an estimation of the effective spin‐mixing conductance at the different interfaces. The results show that by introducing a LNO interlayer between LSMO and SRO, the total effective spin‐mixing conductance increases due to the much more favorable interface of LSMO/LNO with respect to the LSMO/SRO interface. Nevertheless, the spin current into the SRO does not decrease because of the spin diffusion length of in the LNO. This value is two times higher than that of SRO. The results show the potential of using oxide interfaces to tune the effective spin‐mixing conductance in heterostructures and to bring novel functionalities into spintronics by implementing complex oxides.
Molecular mechanism of curcumin action in signaling pathways: Review of the latest research
Authors: Liczbiński Przemysław , Michałowicz Jaromir , Bukowska Bożena
Published: March 2020

Recently, many studies have been conducted trying to explain the molecular mechanism of curcumin action in various pathological states of the cell and the organism. Curcumin is considered to play a role in the regulation of T‐lymphocytes function in the lymphoid tissue of the large intestine, apoptosis of the human papilloma and the activity of the 26S proteasome, and p53 level. Research works have shown that curcumin in tumor can regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytosolic calcium ion level as well as affect other signaling molecules [nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐KB), cytokines] triggering endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress, and thus contributing to death of cancer cells. Curcumin can also arrest of the cell cycle in the G2/M phase leading to apoptosis and/or reduction in cancer cells proliferation. Moreover, curcumin is capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier, and thus it may protect the neurons from oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, curcumin may play a role in cardiological protection and it is possible to use it in the protection of liver and spleen against oxidative and inflammatory injury. Among signaling pathways regulated by curcumin, the most important seem to be those related with regulation of oxidative stress and inhibition of NF‐кB activity.
Surgical treatment of micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma
Authors: Kang Min Kyun , Kang Do Kyun , Hwang Youn‐Ho , Kim Ji Yeon
Published: March 2020

This case was about a 71‐year‐old man presented to our clinic for an anterior mediastinal mass found on routine chest computed tomography (CT). CT scan showed a lobulating contoured mass in the anterior mediastinum. A preliminary diagnosis was thymoma. The patient underwent subxiphoid uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the extended thymectomy and complete excision of the tumour. The pathological examination showed a micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma (MTWLS). In conclusion, this report described an extremely rare tumour, MTWLS, and MTWLS might be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumour, especially thymoma.
Business strategy, stock price informativeness, and analyst coverage efficiency
Authors: Zhang Rongrong
Published: March 2020

We examine how business strategy affects stock price informativeness which in turn influences analyst coverage efficiency. Using stock price synchronicity and the probability of informed trading as proxies for stock price informativeness, we show that stock prices of prospectors are less informative than those of defenders. Next, we explore two channels through which business strategy influences analyst coverage efficiency. We first test and find support for an information transfer channel, i.e., the higher stock price synchronicity of prospectors facilitates more information transfer by analysts, resulting in higher analyst coverage efficiency of prospectors than defenders. Next, we test and find support for an informed trading channel, i.e., the higher probability of informed trading on stocks of defenders intensifies competition between informed traders and analysts. Such competition adversely affects analyst coverage efficiency, leading to lower analyst coverage efficiency of defenders than prospectors. Our findings are robust to an array of robustness checks including 2SLS/IV tests, differences‐in‐difference tests, and high‐tech industry sensitivity analyses.
A review and meta‐analysis of the agricultural potential of struvite as a phosphorus fertilizer
Authors: Hertzberger Allan J. , Cusick Roland D. , Margenot Andrew J.
Published: March 2020

The low water solubility of struvite is thought to limit its agronomic utility as a phosphorus (P) fertilizer compared with highly soluble P fertilizers. Furthermore, struvite's fertilizer potential is complicated by its hypothesized soil pH‐dependent solubility, crop‐specific interactions, and limited availability of struvite‐derived N, which may explain conflicting reports of crop responses to struvite compared with conventional P fertilizers. A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil pH, soil test P (STP), P rate, struvite particle size, and struvite‐derived N on crop aboveground biomass, P concentration, P uptake, and N uptake. Struvite‐fertilized plants yielded higher biomass, P concentration, and P uptake compared with ammonium phosphates, and superphosphates in soils with pH < 6 and crop responses decreased with increasing pH. Crop responses to struvite were inversely related to experiment duration to soil mass ratios (d kg−1) used in greenhouse studies, opposite to the hypothesized benefit of more roots per unit soil on struvite dissolution. The proportion of total N applied derived from struvite increased with increasing struvite‐P application rate and was inversely related to total N uptake, likely due to the increased crop reliance on slowly available struvite‐N. Crop responses were potentially overestimated by high STP and/or P rates and underestimated due to N limitation from large proportions of total N applied derived from struvite. Evaluations of struvite collectively indicate its efficacy as a P fertilizer is affected by soil pH and its contribution to total N application.
“All‐in‐One” Gel System for Whole Procedure of Stem‐Cell Amplification and Tissue Engineering
Authors: He Qiulin , Liao Youguo , Zhang Jingwei , Yao Xudong , Zhou Wenyan , Hong Yi , Ouyang Hongwei
Published: March 2020

Microsphere (MS)‐based systems provides great advantages for cell expansion and transplantation due to their high surface‐to‐volume ratio and biomimetic environment. However, a MS‐based system that includes cell attachment, proliferation, passage, harvest, cryopreservation, and tissue engineering together has not been realized yet. An “all‐in‐one” gel MS‐based system is established for human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs), realizing real 3D culture with enhanced expansion efficiency and simplified serial cell culture operations, and construction of macrotissues with uniform cell distribution and specific function. A 3D digital light‐processing technology is developed to fabricate gel MSs in an effective way. The printed MSs present a suitable environment with rough surface architecture and the mechanical properties of soft tissues, leading to high cell viability, attachment, proliferation, activity, and differentiation potential. Further, convenient standard operation procedures, including cell passage, detachment, and cryopreservation, are established for cell culture on the gel MSs. Finally, hADSCs‐loaded gel MSs form macrotissues through a “bottom‐up” approach, which demonstrates the potential applications for tissue engineering. These findings exhibit the feasibility and beauty of “all‐in‐one” stem cell culture and tissue engineering system.
Single‐Molecule Manipulation in Zero‐Mode Waveguides
Authors: Schendel Leonard C. , Bauer Magnus S. , Sedlak Steffen M. , Gaub Hermann E.
Published: March 2020

The mechanobiology of receptor–ligand interactions and force‐induced enzymatic turnover can be revealed by simultaneous measurements of force response and fluorescence. Investigations at physiologically relevant high labeled substrate concentrations require total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or zero mode waveguides (ZMWs), which are difficult to combine with atomic force microscopy (AFM). A fully automatized workflow is established to manipulate single molecules inside ZMWs autonomously with noninvasive cantilever tip localization. A protein model system comprising a receptor–ligand pair of streptavidin blocked with a biotin‐tagged ligand is introduced. The ligand is pulled out of streptavidin by an AFM cantilever leaving the receptor vacant for reoccupation by freely diffusing fluorescently labeled biotin, which can be detected in single‐molecule fluorescence concurrently to study rebinding rates. This work illustrates the potential of the seamless fusion of these two powerful single‐molecule techniques.
Zinc Oxide Particles Catalytically Generate Nitric Oxide from Endogenous and Exogenous Prodrugs
Authors: Yang Tao , Fruergaard Anne Sofie , Winther Anna K. , Zelikin Alexander N. , Chandrawati Rona
Published: March 2020

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent biological molecule that contributes to a wide spectrum of physiological processes. However, the full potential of NO as a therapeutic agent is significantly complicated by its short half‐life and limited diffusion distance in human tissues. Current strategies for NO delivery focus on encapsulation of NO donors into prefabricated scaffolds or an enzyme‐prodrug therapy approach. The former is limited by the finite pool of NO donors available, while the latter is challenged by the inherent low stability of natural enzymes. Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles with innate glutathione peroxidase and glycosidase activities, a combination that allows to catalytically decompose both endogenous (S‐nitrosoglutathione) and exogenous (β‐gal‐NONOate) donors to generate NO at physiological conditions are reported. By tuning the concentration of ZnO particles and NO prodrugs, physiologically relevant NO levels are achieved. ZnO preserves its catalytic property for at least 6 months and the activity of ZnO in generating NO from prodrugs in human serum is demonstrated. The ZnO catalytic activity will be beneficial toward generating stable NO release for long‐term biomedical applications.
Figured Worlds in Transnational Transmodal Communications
Authors: Li Rui , Hawkins Margaret R.
Published: March 2020

With consideration of the increasing diversity, globalization, and digitalization that is so significantly impacting human relations and communication, this study, through the dual lenses of figured worlds (Holland, Skinner, Lachicotte, & Cain, 1998) and transmodalities (Hawkins, 2018), investigates transnational communications among youth. Specifically, the researchers explore how youth co‐construct meanings of selves and others and understandings of different ways of being, through video making and online communication across time and space. Through analysis of data from an out‐of‐school transnational digital storytelling project for plurilingual youth, the authors identify a series of transmodal moments and critical incidents that occurred in and across different figured worlds. The article considers how these transmodal engagements (re)shaped cultural and global understandings and relations, and demonstrates how the dual frames—figured worlds and transmodalities—can serve as heuristics for understandings of transmodal representation and transnational communication in digitally mediated spaces that are increasingly common in our world.
A review of freely accessible global datasets for the study of floods, droughts and their interactions with human societies
Authors: Lindersson Sara , Brandimarte Luigia , Mård Johanna , Di Baldassarre Giuliano
Published: March 2020

The availability of planetary‐scale geospatial datasets that can support the study of water‐related disasters in the Anthropocene is rapidly growing. We review 124 global and free datasets allowing spatial (and temporal) analyses of floods, droughts and their interactions with human societies. Our collection of datasets is available in a descriptive list for download at https://zenodo.org/record/3368882. The purpose of providing an overview of datasets across a wide range of hydrological and socioeconomic variables is to highlight research opportunities across scientific disciplines for the study of the water‐society interplay. Our collection of datasets confirms that the availability of geospatial data capturing hydrological hazards and exposure is far more mature than those capturing vulnerability aspects. We do not only highlight the unprecedented opportunities associated with these global datasets for the study of water‐related disasters in the Anthropocene, but also discuss the challenges associated with their exploitation. These challenges include: (a) time varying datasets advised not to be used in time series analyses; (b) fine spatial resolution datasets advised not to be used in local scale studies; (c), datasets built by a wide variety of data sources prohibiting systematic uncertainty assessments; and (d) datasets built by covariate variables preventing interaction studies.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

Science of Water > Water Extremes
Are Composition Surveys for Mule Deer Along Roads or From Helicopters Biased? Lessons from the Field
Authors: Conner Mary M. , McKeever Jane S.
Published: March 2020

Monitoring sex and age ratios (i.e., population composition) is common practice in deer (Odocoileus spp.) management because these estimates are used to determine population vital rates, as well as assess effects of hunting regulations and other management actions. However, there is longstanding recognition of potential biases in sex and age ratios that can arise from differences in deer behavior and sightability, or from methodological issues, such as using roads for sampling. Biologists often use roads for composition surveys because of convenience and roads are often considered to provide coverage of the sampling area and, consequently, unbiased estimates of sex and age ratios. We tested the long‐standing belief that low‐use roads through mule deer (O. hemionus) winter range provided an unbiased sampling scheme by designing and conducting a random‐route survey in conjunction with the road survey through the same winter range in Round Valley, California, USA, during 2015 and 2016. In addition, we conducted a helicopter survey of the same area in 2016. We found adult male:adult female (buck:doe) ratios were 31–45% greater from the random‐route survey compared with the road survey. There was no difference in buck:doe ratios between road and helicopter surveys, but the random‐route survey had 55% greater buck:doe ratios than the helicopter survey. The helicopter survey also had 2.2–4.7 times greater proportions of unclassified bucks than the road or random‐route surveys. There were no differences in fawn:doe ratios among the 3 survey methods. We conducted additional spatial analyses to determine if the buck:doe ratio was greater along random‐routes because bucks were avoiding roads or because the random‐route survey covered different areas. We found that bucks were not avoiding roads; rather, the roads did not adequately cover the winter range area. There were differences between all 3 methods, but our main message is that the assumption that roads provide adequate coverage of winter range and unbiased estimates of population composition should be evaluated. To evaluate that assumption, we recommend conducting ≥1 survey using random routes and comparing composition estimates with road surveys. Further, if information on buck antler‐class is required for management decisions, a ground survey is preferable to a helicopter survey. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Fluorine in Small Molecules: Fluoromethyl Azide and Chalcogenocyanates
Authors: Reichel Marco , Egenhöfer Mara , Krumm Burkhard , Karaghiosoff Konstantin
Published: March 2020

Fluoromethylating agents are a highly studied and controversely discussed class of compounds. New fluoromethyl pseudohalides FCH2N3, FCH2SCN, and FCH2SeCN were prepared for the first time and their physical and spectroscopic properties investigated. Their synthesis is performed conveniently by fluoromethylation of the respective silver or potassium pseudohalogenides with fluoroiodomethane.
Skabiestherapie in Deutschland
Authors: Hackenberg B. , Horváth O. N. , Petachti M. , Schult R. , Yenigün N. , Bannenberg P.
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund

Therapie der ersten Wahl gemäß Leitlinie ist bei gewöhnlicher Skabies in Deutschland die topische Einmalbehandlung mit Permethrin 5 % Creme. In den letzten Jahren gab es im Zuge zunehmender Skabiesinzidenz vermehrt Meldungen über ein Nachlassen der Wirksamkeit der Standardtherapie.

Ziel

Um ein besseres Verständnis von der Wirksamkeit der Skabiestherapie unter Praxisbedingungen zu entwickeln, wurde eine Umfrage mit besonderem Fokus auf die Erstlinientherapie mit Permethrin in dermatologischen Kliniken, Ambulanzen und Hautarztpraxen durchgeführt.

Methoden

In der postalischen Umfrage unter allen in Deutschland dermatologisch tätigen Ärzten wurden die bevorzugten Diagnoseverfahren, die jeweilige Standardinitialbehandlung, die wahrgenommene Wirksamkeit der Permethrin-Therapie, die Häufigkeit und die Gründe für ein mögliches Therapieversagen unter Permethrin und das therapeutische Vorgehen bei Versagen der Initialtherapie erfragt.

Ergebnisse

Die Wirksamkeit von Permethrin wurde von 187 Ärzten im Mittel mit 73 % bewertet. Rund 74 % behandeln weiterhin initial topisch mit 5 %iger Permethrin-Creme. Die am häufigsten genannten Gründe für ein Therapieversagen waren Anwendungsfehler, mangelnde Compliance und unzureichende Hygienemaßnahmen. Daneben wurde der Verdacht auf nachlassende Wirksamkeit, Resistenzentwicklung und Re-Infestationen geäußert. Bei Unwirksamkeit der Initialtherapie entscheiden sich die meisten Ärzte für orales Ivermectin, eine Wiederholung der Permethrin-Therapie oder für eine Kombination aus beidem.

Fazit

Obwohl lokal begrenzt über ein Nachlassen der Wirksamkeit von Permethrin bei Skabies berichtet wird, deuten die Ergebnisse dieser Umfrage weiterhin auf eine gute Wirksamkeit der Erstlinientherapie mit Permethrin 5 % Creme in Deutschland hin.
Pharmacological targeting of α3β4 nicotinic receptors improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in mice with diet-induced obesity
Authors: Jall Sigrid , De Angelis Meri , Lundsgaard Anne-Marie , Fritzen Andreas M. , Nicolaisen Trine S. , Klein Anders B. , Novikoff Aaron , Sachs Stephan , Richter Erik A. , Kiens Bente , Schramm Karl-Werner , Tschöp Matthias H. , Stemmer Kerstin , Clemmensen Christoffer , Müller Timo D. , Kleinert Maximilian
Published: March 2020

Aims/hypothesis

Treatment with the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP), improves glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, but the physiological and molecular mechanisms are unknown.

Methods

DMPP (10 mg/kg body weight, s.c.) was administered either in a single injection (acute) or daily for up to 14 days (chronic) in DIO wild-type (WT) and Chrnb4 knockout (KO) mice and glucose tolerance, tissue-specific tracer-based glucose metabolism, and insulin signalling were assessed.

Results

In WT mice, but not in Chrnb4 KO mice, single acute treatment with DMPP induced transient hyperglycaemia, which was accompanied by high plasma adrenaline (epinephrine) levels, upregulated hepatic gluconeogenic genes, and decreased hepatic glycogen content. In contrast to these acute effects, chronic DMPP treatment in WT mice elicited improvements in glucose tolerance already evident after three consecutive days of DMPP treatment. After seven days of DMPP treatment, glucose tolerance was markedly improved, also in comparison with mice that were pair-fed to DMPP-treated mice. The glycaemic benefit of chronic DMPP was absent in Chrnb4 KO mice. Chronic DMPP increased insulin-stimulated glucose clearance into brown adipose tissue (+69%), heart (+93%), gastrocnemius muscle (+74%) and quadriceps muscle (+59%), with no effect in white adipose tissues. After chronic DMPP treatment, plasma adrenaline levels did not increase following an injection with DMPP. In glucose-stimulated skeletal muscle, we detected a decreased phosphorylation of the inhibitory Ser640 phosphorylation site on glycogen synthase and a congruent increase in glycogen accumulation following chronic DMPP treatment.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our data suggest that DMPP acutely induces adrenaline release and hepatic glycogenolysis, while chronic DMPP-mediated activation of β4-containing nAChRs improves peripheral insulin sensitivity independently of changes in body weight via mechanisms that could involve increased non-oxidative glucose disposal into skeletal muscle.
Operational neural networks
Authors: Kiranyaz Serkan , Ince Turker , Iosifidis Alexandros , Gabbouj Moncef
Published: March 2020

Feed-forward, fully connected artificial neural networks or the so-called multi-layer perceptrons are well-known universal approximators. However, their learning performance varies significantly depending on the function or the solution space that they attempt to approximate. This is mainly because of their homogenous configuration based solely on the linear neuron model. Therefore, while they learn very well those problems with a monotonous, relatively simple and linearly separable solution space, they may entirely fail to do so when the solution space is highly nonlinear and complex. Sharing the same linear neuron model with two additional constraints (local connections and weight sharing), this is also true for the conventional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and it is, therefore, not surprising that in many challenging problems only the deep CNNs with a massive complexity and depth can achieve the required diversity and the learning performance. In order to address this drawback and also to accomplish a more generalized model over the convolutional neurons, this study proposes a novel network model, called operational neural networks (ONNs), which can be heterogeneous and encapsulate neurons with any set of operators to boost diversity and to learn highly complex and multi-modal functions or spaces with minimal network complexity and training data. Finally, the training method to back-propagate the error through the operational layers of ONNs is formulated. Experimental results over highly challenging problems demonstrate the superior learning capabilities of ONNs even with few neurons and hidden layers.
The scenario coevolution paradigm: adaptive quality assurance for adaptive systems
Authors: Gabor Thomas , Sedlmeier Andreas , Phan Thomy , Ritz Fabian , Kiermeier Marie , Belzner Lenz , Kempter Bernhard , Klein Cornel , Sauer Horst , Schmid Reiner , Wieghardt Jan , Zeller Marc , Linnhoff-Popien Claudia
Published: March 2020

Systems are becoming increasingly more adaptive, using techniques like machine learning to enhance their behavior on their own rather than only through human developers programming them. We analyze the impact the advent of these new techniques has on the discipline of rigorous software engineering, especially on the issue of quality assurance. To this end, we provide a general description of the processes related to machine learning and embed them into a formal framework for the analysis of adaptivity, recognizing that to test an adaptive system a new approach to adaptive testing is necessary. We introduce scenario coevolution as a design pattern describing how system and test can work as antagonists in the process of software evolution. While the general pattern applies to large-scale processes (including human developers further augmenting the system), we show all techniques on a smaller-scale example of an agent navigating a simple smart factory. We point out new aspects in software engineering for adaptive systems that may be tackled naturally using scenario coevolution. This work is a substantially extended take on Gabor et al. (International symposium on leveraging applications of formal methods, Springer, pp 137–154, 2018).
Sex, Reasons, Pro Tanto Wronging, and the Structure of Rape Liability
Authors: Greasley Kate
Published: March 2020

Some recent scholarship in the philosophy of criminal law has claimed that sexual penetration ‘per se’—meaning, consensual or otherwise—is pro tanto morally wrong, or that there exist ‘general reasons’ against it. On such a view, penetrative sex is only ever at best justified wrongdoing. When paired with an influential view about the theoretical basis of the offence-defence distinction in criminal law, the apparent implication is that sexual penetration alone ought to constitute the actus reus of rape, with the question of consent relegated to a defence matter. This article firstly sets out some of the difficult upshots of considering all sexual penetration to be pro tanto wrong, particularly when one attends to the full moral entailments of justified wrongdoing. Assuming, arguendo, that sexual penetration is pro tanto wrong, it is also far from clear, I suggest, that consent, of all things, amounts to a justification for penetrative sex. This creates further difficulties for the pro tanto wrong view. Finally, I argue that even if penetrative sex is a pro tanto moral wrong of some kind, it does not follow, as some scholars have suggested, that there is a case for making penetrative sex as such (alongside culpability requirements) the offence element of rape.
Mesoporous Graphene Hosts for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anode in Working Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Liu He , Cheng Xinbing , Zhang Rui , Shi Peng , Shen Xin , Chen Xiaoru , Li Tao , Huang Jiaqi , Zhang Qiang
Published: March 2020

Lithium (Li) metal anode has received extensive attentions due to its ultrahigh theoretical capacity and the most negative electrode potential. However, dendrite growth severely impedes the practical applications of the Li metal anode in rechargeable batteries. In this contribution, a mesoporous graphene with a high specific surface area was synthesized to host the Li metal anode. The mesoporous graphene host (MGH) has a high specific surface area (2090 m2/g), which affords free space and an interconnected conductive pathway for Li plating and stripping, thus alleviating the volume variation and reducing the generation of dead Li during repeated cycles. More importantly, the high specific surface area of MGH efficiently reduces the local current density of the electrode, which favors a uniform Li nucleation and plating behavior, rendering a dendrite-free deposition morphology at a low overpotential. These factors synergistically boost the Li utilization (90.1% vs. 70.1% for Cu foil) and life span (150 cycles vs. 100 cycles for Cu foil) with a low polarization of MGH electrode at an ultrahigh current of 15.0 mA/cm2. The as-prepared MGH can provide fresh insights into the electrode design of the Li metal anode operating at high rates.
Standardizing Estimates of Biomass at Recruitment and Productivity for Fin- and Shellfish in Coastal Habitats
Authors: Cebrian Just , Liu Hui , Christman Mary , Hollweg Terill , McCay Deborah French , Balouskus Richard , McManus Conor , Ballestero Heather , White Jennifer , Friedman Scott , Benson Kristopher
Published: March 2020

Assessing the biomass and productivity of fin- and shellfish supported by coastal ecosystems is important to develop plans for the conservation and restoration of these ecosystems, but such assessments are not easy to obtain. We developed a protocol that, from density data, quantifies biomass at recruitment for species where information exists to derive life history tables, and productivity where such information does not exist. Our protocol also assesses the variability (i.e., variance) for the calculated biomass and productivity values. For relatively well-reported species, inferences regarding differences among habitats or species can be suggested. For instance, application of our protocol to juvenile pinfish confirms its well-known preference for structured habitats. Mud crabs also seem to reach higher productivity levels in structured than open bottom habitats. For poorly reported species, only a general idea can be gleaned. However, larger data sets of fin- and shellfish density in shallow coastal systems are needed to increase the accuracy, precision, and comprehensiveness of the estimates of biomass at recruitment and productivity generated with our protocol. With such larger data sets and the use of statistical tools such as Bayesian methods, the protocol can significantly help improve our understanding and management of fisheries productivity in coastal systems.
Robot Interaction Styles for Conversation Practice in Second Language Learning
Authors: Engwall Olov , Lopes José , Åhlund Anna
Published: March 2020

Four different interaction styles for the social robot Furhat acting as a host in spoken conversation practice with two simultaneous language learners have been developed, based on interaction styles of human moderators of language cafés. We first investigated, through a survey and recorded sessions of three-party language café style conversations, how the interaction styles of human moderators are influenced by different factors (e.g., the participants language level and familiarity). Using this knowledge, four distinct interaction styles were developed for the robot: sequentially asking one participant questions at the time (Interviewer); the robot speaking about itself, robots and Sweden or asking quiz questions about Sweden (Narrator); attempting to make the participants talk with each other (Facilitator); and trying to establish a three-party robot–learner–learner interaction with equal participation (Interlocutor). A user study with 32 participants, conversing in pairs with the robot, was carried out to investigate how the post-session ratings of the robot’s behavior along different dimensions (e.g., the robot’s conversational skills and friendliness, the value of practice) are influenced by the robot’s interaction style and participant variables (e.g., level in the target language, gender, origin). The general findings were that Interviewer received the highest mean rating, but that different factors influenced the ratings substantially, indicating that the preference of individual participants needs to be anticipated in order to improve learner satisfaction with the practice. We conclude with a list of recommendations for robot-hosted conversation practice in a second language.
Application of information theory in systems biology
Authors: Uda Shinsuke
Published: March 2020

Over recent years, new light has been shed on aspects of information processing in cells. The quantification of information, as described by Shannon’s information theory, is a basic and powerful tool that can be applied to various fields, such as communication, statistics, and computer science, as well as to information processing within cells. It has also been used to infer the network structure of molecular species. However, the difficulty of obtaining sufficient sample sizes and the computational burden associated with the high-dimensional data often encountered in biology can result in bottlenecks in the application of information theory to systems biology. This article provides an overview of the application of information theory to systems biology, discussing the associated bottlenecks and reviewing recent work.
Simulation of the Condensation and Fractionation Unit in Waste Plastics Pyrolysis Plant
Authors: Krzywda Roman , Wrzesińska Bogumiła
Published: March 2020

The condensation and fractionation unit design affects the quantity and quality of the liquid products derived from the waste plastics pyrolysis. The oil products, if meet the standards requirements, can be used as an alternative fuel. Three configurations of this unit were studied: two condensers system with phase separators (2 CNDR), three condensers system with phase separators (3 CNDR) and as an unconventional solution in pyrolytic plant—the rectification column system (TOWR). Based on the chromatographic analysis and laboratory distillation results of the pyrolytic oil from industrial plant, the composition of the model oil was determined. This model oil was then used in simulations of the condensation and fractionation units, using ChemCad software. The comparison of the three tested configurations showed that the best separation of components was achieved in the TOWR system. Although in the simplest CNDR 2 system the desired heavy fraction yield was higher, its composition was least favourable in terms of oil properties (e.g., flash point), because more light components were condensed. Since the application of rectification column resulted in the best fractionation efficiency, the proposed TOWR configuration was examined in detail. The change of the rectification column process parameters (mainly the reflux ratio) allows for precise control of the oil fractions composition. The reflux ratio, and hence the distillate temperature, determines the heavy fraction yield. The yield and composition of the oil fractions practically do not depend on the feed stream temperature. By increasing the number of stages in the rectification column the separation of near-boiling components is improved, but the significant effect is noticeable only up to 10 theoretical stages.

Graphic Abstract
Contextualizing Cognitions: the Relation Between Negative Post-traumatic Cognitions and Post-traumatic Stress Among Palestinian Refugees
Authors: van Heemstra H. E. , Scholte W. F. , Ehring T. , Boelen P. A.
Published: March 2020

Negative post-traumatic cognitions (PTC) are a relevant factor in the development, persistence, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Palestinian refugees live under challenging circumstances and have negative future prospects, so negative cognitions might be expected to prevail. It is uncertain whether findings on the relation between PTC and PTSD in other (non-refugee) populations can be generalized to the Palestinian refugee context. The first objective was to examine the degree to which endorsement of PTC in this sample differed from the endorsement observed in other samples. The second objective was to investigate whether PTC explain variance in PTSD symptomatology and are predictive of PTSD diagnostic status. In Palestinian refugees (N = 85, 51.8% female), PTSD symptoms and negative cognitions were assessed. One sample t tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Total PTC scores were significantly higher in the Palestinian sample than in reference samples. Negative cognitions explained significant variance in PTSD symptoms and probable diagnostic status. Findings support the relevance of PTC for PTSD symptoms and diagnosis in a Palestinian refugee sample, in line with the cognitive model for PTSD. This is especially relevant for researchers and clinicians working with refugees in conflict areas.
Being liked or not being liked: A study on social‐media exclusion in a preadolescent population
Authors: Timeo Susanna , Riva Paolo , Paladino Maria Paola
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Social‐media can contribute to building up adolescents' relationships, but they might also bring negative exclusionary experiences. Being excluded is a subtle yet hurtful form of relational aggression, which affects people's psychological wellbeing, especially during developmental stages. In this study, we (1) analyzed the effects of social‐media exclusion adapting the Ostracism Online paradigm to a cohort of Italian preadolescents (Mage = 11.47, 53% girls) and (2) tested the efficacy of two potential recovery strategies (i.e., social bonds vs. social surrogate).

Method

Inclusionary status was manipulated through the number of “likes” participants received on a fictitious online social network. In the exclusion condition, participants received fewer likes than everyone else. In the inclusion condition, participants received a similar number of likes of other users. Then, all participants were asked to think of a significant positive relationship with a family member (social bonds), a celebrity (social surrogate), their present moment thoughts (control).

Results

Preadolescents who received fewer likes than others reported higher levels of need threat (i.e., belong, self‐esteem, meaningful existence, but not control) and negative emotions. Moreover, the social‐bonds strategy generally brought a faster psychological recovery from social‐media exclusion than the control condition. The efficacy of social‐surrogates strategy was greater for boys than for girls, probably due to different choices in their favorite celebrities.

Conclusion

These findings show how offline life offers compensatory opportunities for adolescents’ online life. When the lack of “Likes” signal exclusion on social‐media, thinking of an existing social relationship help adolescents to cope with this negative experience.
Danger! Glyphosate may Expose Weaknesses in Institutional Systems: EU Legislation and Comitology in the Face of a Controversial Reauthorisation
Authors: VAN DEN BRINK Ton
Published: March 2020

The 2017 glyphosate reauthorisation process has exposed key weaknesses of the EU’s institutional system. First, the role of Germany as Member State rapporteur and the subsequent decision to appoint a group of Member States to form the Assessment Group on Glyphosate (AGG) suggest that the nature of scientific assessments become blurred. These assessments are apparently not just purely objective, science-based and procedural elements of the authorization procedure, but require support from a significant number of Member States as well. Second, the arduous comitology trajectory in the glyphosate reauthorisation process has caused the Commission to initiate questionable changes to comitology. These changes would corrupt the coherence of the EU’s legislative system in general and the constitutional distinction between delegated and implementing acts in particular. Moreover, they would overlook the more obvious solution of relying more on discretion on the part of the Commission. Lastly, the glyphosate reauthorisation has questioned the dichotomy between legislation and executive rule-making, an equally central element of the EU’s constitutional order. This dichotomy is based on a distinction between essential elements that belong to the legislative domain and non-essential element which are more technical in nature. It has been claimed that weighing the economic benefits of pesticides against the health and environmental costs associated with their use is in essence a legislative choice. This claim highlights not so much the practical problem of how to draw the line between political and technical decision-making, but rather denies the very meaning of the dichotomy altogether. Yet, the current system on the placing on the market of plant protection products – based on the legislation providing the general framework and the executive applying this in concrete cases – is certainly not devoid of coherence and logic.
LONG TIME BEHAVIOR OF THE SOLUTIONS OF NLW ON THE -DIMENSIONAL TORUS
Authors: BERNIER JOACKIM , FAOU ERWAN , GRÉBERT BENOÎT
Published: March 2020

We consider the nonlinear wave equation (NLW) on the

$d$

-dimensional torus

$\mathbb{T}^{d}$

with a smooth nonlinearity of order at least 2 at the origin. We prove that, for almost any mass, small and smooth solutions of high Sobolev indices are stable up to arbitrary long times with respect to the size of the initial data. To prove this result, we use a normal form transformation decomposing the dynamics into low and high frequencies with weak interactions. While the low part of the dynamics can be put under classical Birkhoff normal form, the high modes evolve according to a time-dependent linear Hamiltonian system. We then control the global dynamics by using polynomial growth estimates for high modes and the preservation of Sobolev norms for the low modes. Our general strategy applies to any semilinear Hamiltonian Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) whose linear frequencies satisfy a very general nonresonance condition. The (NLW) equation on

$\mathbb{T}^{d}$

is a good example since the standard Birkhoff normal form applies only when

$d=1$

while our strategy applies in any dimension.
-DEFORMED RATIONALS AND -CONTINUED FRACTIONS
Authors: MORIER-GENOUD SOPHIE , OVSIENKO VALENTIN
Published: March 2020

We introduce a notion of$q$-deformed rational numbers and$q$-deformed continued fractions. A$q$-deformed rational is encoded by a triangulation of a polygon and can be computed recursively. The recursive formula is analogous to the$q$-deformed Pascal identity for the Gaussian binomial coefficients, but the Pascal triangle is replaced by the Farey graph. The coefficients of the polynomials defining the$q$-rational count quiver subrepresentations of the maximal indecomposable representation of the graph dual to the triangulation. Several other properties, such as total positivity properties,$q$-deformation of the Farey graph, matrix presentations and$q$-continuants are given, as well as a relation to the Jones polynomial of rational knots.