bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microsatellite Instability in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer Receiving Fluoropyrimidine With or Without Oxaliplatin: An ACCENT Pooled Analysis of 12 Adjuvant Trials
Authors: Cohen Romain , Taieb Julien , Fiskum Jack , Yothers Greg , Goldberg Richard , Yoshino Takayuki , Alberts Steven , Allegra Carmen , de Gramont Aimery , Seitz Jean-Francois , O'Connell Michael , Haller Daniel , Wolmark Norman , Erlichman Charles , Zaniboni Alberto , Lonardi Sara , Kerr Rachel , Grothey Axel , Sinicrope Frank A. , André Thierry , Shi Qian
Published: December 2020

PURPOSE:

In patients with stage III colon cancer (CC) whose tumors demonstrate microsatellite instability (MSI), the efficacy of adjuvant fluoropyrimidine (FP) with or without oxaliplatin has not been clearly demonstrated and the prognostic value of MSI remains uncertain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Individual patient data from the ACCENT database were used to evaluate the effect of FP with or without oxaliplatin on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with MSI stage III CC and the prognostic value of MSI in patients treated with FP plus oxaliplatin, by stratified Cox models adjusted for demographic and clinicopathological factors.

RESULTS:

MSI status was available for 5,457 patients (609 MSI, 11.2%; 4848 microsatellite stable [MSS], 88.8%) from 12 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Oxaliplatin significantly improved OS of MSI patients from the two RCTs testing FP with or without oxaliplatin (n = 185; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.93). Among the 4,250 patients treated with FP plus oxaliplatin (461 MSI and 3789 MSS), MSI was associated with better OS in the N1 group compared with MSS (aHR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.95) but similar survival in the N2 population (aHR = 1.13; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.48; P interaction = .029). The main independent prognosticators of MSI patients treated with FP plus oxaliplatin were T stage (aHR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.38) and N stage (aHR = 3.57; 95% CI, 2.32 to 5.48). Similar results were observed for DFS in all analyses.

CONCLUSION:

Adding oxaliplatin to FP improves OS and DFS in patients with MSI stage III CC. Compared with MSS, MSI patients experienced better outcomes in the N1 group but similar survival in the N2 group.
Randomized Trial of Irinotecan and Cetuximab With or Without Vemurafenib in BRAF-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (SWOG S1406)
Authors: Kopetz Scott , Guthrie Katherine A. , Morris Van K. , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Magliocco Anthony M. , Maru Dipen , Yan Yibing , Lanman Richard , Manyam Ganiraju , Hong David S. , Sorokin Alexey , Atreya Chloe E. , Diaz Luis A. , Allegra Carmen , Raghav Kanwal P. , Wang Stephen E. , Lieu Christopher H. , McDonough Shannon L. , Philip Philip A. , Hochster Howard S.
Published: December 2020

PURPOSE

BRAF V600E mutations are rarely associated with objective responses to the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Blockade of BRAF V600E by vemurafenib causes feedback upregulation of EGFR, whose signaling activities can be impeded by cetuximab.

METHODS

One hundred six patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic CRC previously treated with one or two regimens were randomly assigned to irinotecan and cetuximab with or without vemurafenib (960 mg PO twice daily).

RESULTS

Progression-free survival, the primary end point, was improved with the addition of vemurafenib (hazard ratio, 0.50, P = .001). The response rate was 17% versus 4% ( P = .05), with a disease control rate of 65% versus 21% ( P < .001). A decline in circulating tumor DNA BRAF V600E variant allele frequency was seen in 87% versus 0% of patients ( P < .001), with a low incidence of acquired RAS alterations at the time of progression. RNA profiling suggested that treatment benefit did not depend on previously established BRAF subgroups or the consensus molecular subtype.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous inhibition of EGFR and BRAF combined with irinotecan is effective in BRAF V600E-mutated CRC.
Path-dependent course of epidemic: Are two phases of quarantine better than one?
Authors: Nimmagadda Varun , Kogan Oleg , Khain Evgeniy
Published: December 2020

The importance of a strict quarantine has been widely debated during the COVID-19 epidemic even from the purely epidemiological point of view. One argument against strict lockdown measures is that once the strict quarantine is lifted, the epidemic comes back, and so the cumulative number of infected individuals during the entire epidemic will stay the same. We consider an SIR model on a network and follow the disease dynamics, modeling the phases of quarantine by changing the node degree distribution. We show that the system reaches different steady states based on the history: the outcome of the epidemic is path-dependent despite the same final node degree distribution. The results indicate that the two-phase route to the final node degree distribution (a strict phase followed by a soft phase) is always better than one phase (the same soft one) unless all the individuals have the same number of connections at the end (the same degree); in the latter case, the overall number of infected is indeed history-independent. The modeling also suggests that the optimal procedure of lifting the quarantine consists of releasing nodes in the order of their degree - highest first.
Circulating Exosomes From Patients With Graves’ Disease Induce an Inflammatory Immune Response
Authors: Cui Xuejiao , Huang Mingshi , Wang Shiwei , Zhao Na , Huang Ting , Wang Zhenzhen , Qiao Jing , Wang Shuo , Shan Zhongyan , Teng Weiping , Li Yushu
Published: December 2020

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that can participate in autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore whether circulating exosomes are involved in Graves’ disease (GD) pathogenesis. In this study, serum exosomes were extracted from 26 healthy controls (HC-EXO), 26 GD patients (GD-EXO), and 7 Graves’ ophthalmopathy patients (GO-EXO). For each group, the total protein content was detected, and thyrotropin receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), and cluster of differentiation (CD) 63 expression were analyzed by Western blotting (WB). Healthy volunteer-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HC-EXO or GD-EXO were cocultured for 24 h, and immunofluorescence was used to observe the locations of the exosomes and toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/3. CD11c+TLR2+ and CD11c+TLR3+ cell percentages were determined by flow cytometry. Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), toll/interleukin (IL)-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF) and p-P65 expression were analyzed by WB. IL-6 and IL-1β supernatant levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the total protein concentration was similar among GD-EXO, GO-EXO, and HC-EXO. IGF-1R and HSP60 expression was significantly higher in GD-EXO and GO-EXO than in HC-EXO. After coculturing PBMCs with GD-EXO or HC-EXO for 24 h, GD-EXO could bind to TLR2/3. GD-EXO significantly increased CD11c+TLR2+ and CD11c+TLR3+ cell percentages; MyD88, TRIF, and p-P65 protein expression; and IL-6 and IL-1β levels. In conclusion, we first demonstrated that GD-EXO and GO-EXO highly expressed IGF-1R and HSP60. GD-EXO may induce an inflammatory response through the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway and be involved in the pathogenesis of GD.
BMP4 activates the Wnt-Lin28A-Blimp1-Wnt pathway to promote primordial germ cells formation via altering H3K4me2
Authors: Zuo Qisheng , Jin Kai , Wang Man , Zhang Yani , Chen Guohong , Li Bichun
Published: December 2020

The unique developmental characteristics of Chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) enable it to be used in recovery of endangered bird species, gene editing and the generation of transgenic birds, but the limited number of PGCs greatly limits its application. Studies have shown that the formation of mammalian PGCs is induced by BMP4 signal, but the formation mechanism of chicken PGCs has not been determined. Here, we confirmed that Wnt signaling activated via BMP4 activates transcription of Lin28A by inducing β-catenin to compete with LSD1 for binding to TCF7L2, causing LSD1 to dissociate from the Lin28A promoter and enhanced H3K4me2 methylation in this region. Lin28A promotes PGCs formation by inhibiting gga-let7a-3p maturation to initiate Blimp1 expression. Interestingly, expression of Blimp1 helped sustain Wnt5A expression by preventing LSD1 binding to the Wnt5A promoter. We thus elucidated a positive feedback pathway involving Wnt-Lin28-Blimp1-Wnt, that ensures PGCs formation. In summary, our data provide a new insights in the development of PGCs in chickens.
Protein kinase Cα regulates the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of KRIT1
Authors: De Luca Elisa , Perrelli Andrea , Swamy Harsha , Nitti Mariapaola , Passalacqua Mario , Furfaro Anna Lisa , Salzano Anna Maria , Scaloni Andrea , Glading Angela J. , Retta Saverio Francesco
Published: December 2020

KRIT1 is a scaffolding protein that regulates multiple molecular mechanisms, including cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion, and redox homeostasis and signaling. However, rather little is known about how KRIT1 is itself regulated. KRIT1 is found in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, yet the upstream signaling proteins and mechanisms that regulate KRIT1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling are not well understood. Here, we identify a key role for protein kinase C (PKC) in this process. In particular, we found that PKC activation promotes the redox-dependent cytoplasmic localization of KRIT1, whereas inhibition of PKC or treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine leads to KRIT1 nuclear accumulation. Moreover, we demonstrated that the N-terminal region of KRIT1 is crucial for the ability of PKC to regulate KRIT1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, and may be a target for PKC-dependent regulatory phosphorylation events. Finally, we found that silencing of PKCα, but not PKCδ, inhibits phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced cytoplasmic enrichment of KRIT1, suggesting a major role for PKCα in regulating KRIT1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Overall, our findings identify PKCα as a novel regulator of KRIT1 subcellular compartmentalization, thus shedding new light on the physiopathological functions of this protein.
The budding yeast Start repressor Whi7 differs in regulation from Whi5, emerging as a major cell cycle brake in response to stress
Authors: Méndez Ester , Gomar-Alba Mercè , Bañó M. Carmen , Mendoza Manuel , Quilis Inma , Igual J. Carlos
Published: December 2020

Start is the main decision point in the eukaryotic cell cycle at which cells commit to a new round of cell division. It involves the irreversible activation of a transcriptional programme through the inactivation of Start transcriptional repressors: the retinoblastoma family in mammals, or Whi5 and its recently identified paralogue Whi7 (also known as Srl3) in budding yeast. Here, we provide a comprehensive comparison of Whi5 and Whi7 that reveals significant qualitative differences. Indeed, the expression, subcellular localization and functionality of Whi7 and Whi5 are differentially regulated. Importantly, Whi7 shows specific properties in its association with promoters not shared by Whi5, and for the first time, we demonstrate that Whi7, and not Whi5, can be the main contributor to Start inhibition such as it occurs in the response to cell wall stress. Our results help to improve understanding of the interplay between multiple differentially regulated Start repressors in order to face specific cellular conditions.
Regulation of dietary intake of protein and lipid by nurse-age adult worker honeybees
Authors: Stabler Daniel , Al-Esawy Mushtaq , Chennells Jennifer A. , Perri Giorgia , Robinson Alexandria , Wright Geraldine A.
Published: December 2020

Essential macronutrients are critical to the fitness and survival of animals. Many studies have shown that animals regulate the amount of protein and carbohydrate they eat for optimal performance. Regulation of dietary fat is important but less often studied. Honeybees collect and consume floral pollen to obtain protein and fat but how they achieve the optimal balance of these two macronutrients is presently unknown. Here, using chemically defined diets composed of essential amino acids and lipids (lecithin), we show that adult worker honeybees actively regulate their intake of lipids around optimal values relative to protein in diet. We found that broodless, nurse-age worker honeybees consume foods to achieve a ratio between 1:2 and 1:3 (essential amino acids:lipid) or ∼1.25:1 protein:fat. Bees fed diets relatively high in fat gained abdominal fat and had enlarged hypopharyngeal glands. In most cases, eating diets high in fat did not result in increased mortality. Importantly, we also discovered that the total quantity of food the bees ate increased when they were given a choice of two diets relatively high in fat, implying that dietary fat influences bee nutritional state in a way that in turn, influences behaviour. We speculate that dietary fat plays a critical role in maintaining workers in the nurse-like behavioural state independently of the influence of queen pheromone.
Different fuel regulation in two types of myofiber results in different antioxidant strategies in Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) during hibernation
Authors: Shen-Hui Xu , Fu Wei-Wei , Zhang Jie , Wang Hui-Ping , Dang Kai , Chang Hui , Gao Yun-Fang
Published: December 2020

We previously showed that different skeletal muscles in Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) possess different antioxidant strategies during hibernation; however, the reason for these varied strategies remains unclear. To clarify this issue, we studied REDD1, FOXO4, PGC-1α, FOXO1, and atrogin-1 proteins to determine the potential cause of the different antioxidant strategies in Daurian ground squirrels during hibernation, and to clarify whether different strategies affect atrophy-related signals. Results showed that the soleus (SOL) muscle experienced intracellular hypoxia during interbout arousal, but no oxidative stress. This may be due to increased PGC-1α expression enhancing antioxidant capacity in the SOL under hypoxic conditions. Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle showed no change in oxidative stress, hypoxia, or antioxidant capacity during hibernation. The FOXO1 and PGC-1α results strongly suggested differentially regulated fuel metabolism in the SOL and EDL muscles during hibernation, i.e., enhanced lipid oxidation and maintained anaerobic glycolysis, respectively. Atrogin-1 expression did not increase during hibernation in either the SOL or EDL, indicating that protein synthesis was not inhibited by atrogin-1. Thus, our results suggest that different fuel regulation may be one mechanism related to antioxidant defense strategy formation in different kinds of skeletal muscle fibers of Daurian ground squirrels during hibernation.
Contrasting strategies of osmotic and ionic regulation in freshwater crabs and shrimps: gene expression of gill ion transporters
Authors: Mantovani Milene , McNamara John Campbell
Published: December 2020

Owing to their extraordinary niche diversity, the Crustacea are ideal for comprehending the evolution of osmoregulation. The processes that effect systemic hydro-electrolytic homeostasis maintain hemolymph ionic composition via membrane transporters located in highly specialized gill ionocytes. We evaluated physiological and molecular hyper- and hypo-osmoregulatory mechanisms in two phylogenetically distant, freshwater crustaceans, the crab Dilocarcinus pagei and the shrimp Macrobrachium jelskii, when osmotically challenged for up to 10 days. When in distilled water, D. pagei survived without mortality, hemolymph osmolality and [Cl−] increased briefly, stabilizing at initial values, while [Na+] decreased continually. Gill V(H+)-ATPase, Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+/K+/2Cl− gene expressions were unchanged. In M. jelskii, hemolymph osmolality, [Cl−] and [Na+] decreased continually for 12 h, the shrimps surviving only around 15 to 24 h exposure. Gill transporter gene expressions increased 2- to 5-fold. After 10-days exposure to brackish water (25 ‰S), D. pagei was isosmotic, iso-chloremic and iso-natriuremic. Gill V(H+)-ATPase expression decreased while Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+/K+/2Cl− expressions were unchanged. In M. jelskii (20 ‰S), hemolymph was hypo-regulated, particularly [Cl−]. Transporter expressions initially increased 3- to 12-fold, declining to control values. Gill V(H+)-ATPase expression underlies the ability of D. pagei to survive in fresh water while V(H+)- and Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+/K+/2Cl− expressions enable M. jelskii to confront hyper/hypo-osmotic challenge. These findings reveal divergent responses in two unrelated crustaceans inhabiting a similar osmotic niche. While D. pagei does not secrete salt, tolerating elevated cellular isosmoticity, M. jelskii exhibits clear hypo-osmoregulatory ability. Each species has evolved distinct strategies at the transcriptional and systemic levels during its adaptation to fresh water.
Prisoners receive food fit for a queen: honeybees feed small hive beetles protein-rich glandular secretions through trophallaxis
Authors: Langlands Zoë , du Rand Esther E. , Crailsheim Karl , Yusuf Abdullahi A. , Pirk Christian W. W.
Published: December 2020

The honeybee nest parasite Aethina tumida (small hive beetle), uses behavioural mimicry to induce trophallactic feeding from its honeybee hosts. Small hive beetles are able to induce honeybee workers to share the carbohydrate–rich contents of their crops, but it is not clear whether the beetles are able to induce to workers to feed them the protein-rich hypopharyngeal glandular secretions fed to the queen, larvae and other nest mates. Protein is a limiting macronutrient in an insect's diet, essential for survival, growth and fecundity. Honeybees obtain protein from pollen, which is consumed and digested by nurse bees. They then distribute the protein to the rest of the colony in the form of hypopharyngeal gland secretions. Using 14C-phenylalanine as a qualitative marker for protein transfer, we show that small hive beetles successfully induce worker bees to feed them the protein-rich secretions of their hypopharyngeal glands during trophallaxis, and that females are more successful than males in inducing the transfer of these protein-rich secretions. Furthermore, behavioural observations demonstrated that female beetles do not preferentially interact with a specific age cohort of bees when soliciting food, but males tend to be more discriminate and avoids the more aggressive and active older bees.
Research Progress on Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) in Polluted Water
Authors: Yuan Gaoqian , Li Faliang , Li Kezhuo , Liu Jie , Li Junyi , Zhang Shaowei , Jia Quanli , Zhang Haijun
Published: December 2020

More and more wastewater containing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), which causes increasingly threatening environmental events including death of plants or organisms, soil inactivation and canceration of human organs, has been caused by rapid industrial growth. Various methods, such as photocatalytic reduction, physical adsorption, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical approaches have been proposed to detoxify/remove Cr(VI) contained in wastewater. Quite significantly, photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction grabs increasing attention with many advantages, including environmental friendliness, no sludge, low secondary pollution risk, high utilization of solar energy and low dosage of chemical reagents. For the purpose of improving the Cr(VI) removal efficiency during the photocatalytic reduction process, various kinds of catalysts were developed. In this mini-review, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by ion doping photocatalysts, faceted photocatalysts, and heterostructure photocatalysts are briefly introduced. Furthermore, some suggestions for modifying photocatalysts to enhance their photocatalytic performance on Cr(VI) reduction are put forward.
Adaptation of "Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire" (NMRQ) in Greek. A reliability and validity study in an epidemiological Greek sample
Authors: Pilafas Georgios , Strongylaki Nefeli Paraskevi , Papaioannou Dimitrios , Menti Despina , Lyrakos Georgios
Published: December 2020

Introduction: ‘Psychological Resilience’ is one of the key elements in human behavior that interplays with stress in mental disorders and physical illnesses in both healthy and unhealthy populations, regardless of their biopsychosocial background. Therefore, a reliable and valid resilience questionnaire for clinical and research use is of great necessity.Aim: Hence, the present study was conducted in order for the original English version of ‘Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire’ (NMRQ) to be adapted in the Greek population.Methods & Materials: The original English NMRQ consists of 12 items measuring resilience. It is a self-reported questionnaire, while each respective item is measured through a 5-Likert scale point system. The design of the study was developed to firstly translate the original English questionnaire in Greek, and secondly to test the new version upon its ‘item consistency’, ‘internal correlation’, ‘internal consistency’, ‘consistency validity’, and finally perform a ‘factor analysis’ after recruiting a Greek sample.Results: The results show 80% validity (Cronbach’s alpha=.800) of the new Greek version. The number of participants (N= 1,158) provided to the study an ‘a priori’ odds ratio of 1.274, a critical z of 1.6448 and an actual power of 95%. The Greek translation was considered accurate, while the new version maintained a good item consistency.Conclusion: It is proposed that the Greek version of NMRQ may be adapted in the Greek population in clinical and research related to resilience and stress, as well as for any future studies to test-retest its validity and reliability.
Host Directed Therapies for Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Davis Angharad G. , Donovan Joseph , Bremer Marise , Van Toorn Ronald , Schoeman Johan , Dadabhoy Ariba , Lai Rachel P.J. , Cresswell Fiona V , Boulware David R , Wilkinson Robert J , Thuong Nguyen Thuy Thuong , Thwaites Guy E , Bahr Nathan C ,   Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium
Published: December 2020

A dysregulated host immune response significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Effective host directed therapies (HDTs) are critical to improve survival and clinical outcomes. Currently only one HDT, dexamethasone, is proven to improve mortality. However, there is no evidence dexamethasone reduces morbidity, how it reduces mortality is uncertain, and it has no proven benefit in HIV co-infected individuals. Further research on these aspects of its use, as well as alternative HDTs such as aspirin, thalidomide and other immunomodulatory drugs is needed. Based on new knowledge from pathogenesis studies, repurposed therapeutics which act upon small molecule drug targets may also have a role in TBM. Here we review existing literature investigating HDTs in TBM, and propose new rationale for the use of novel and repurposed drugs. We also discuss host variable responses and evidence to support a personalised approach to HDTs in TBM.
ТЕКСТ КАК ФЕНОМЕН КУЛЬТУРЫ В ФИЛОСОФСКИХ УЧЕНИЯХ ХХ ВЕКА
Authors: Polyakova Tatyana Aleksandrovna , Ustyugov Sergey Nikolaevich
Published: December 2020

Цель. В статье анализируются исторические особенности проблем текста в философии XX века как элементы структуры общества. В работе показано, что особенностью данного подхода является раскрытие сущности диалогического мышления в культуре через изучение текста как «первичной реальности» любой гуманитарной науки. Цель – рассмотрение исторических особенностей проблем текста в контексте изменения современной культурной парадигмы и ее философского осмысления.Методы. При написании работы использовались междисциплинарный, деятельностный и аксиологический подходы.Результаты. Проблемы текста рассмотрены в следующих аспектах: текст как инструмент самоидентификации и как источник аккумулятивных постижений общества. Поэтому, трактовка языка как воплощения смысложизненной интенциональности человеческой экзистенции приводит к инспирации современной парадигмы философии языка в контексте культуры постмодерна, задающей предельно широкое видение текстовой реальности. Все это и обосновывает релевантность предметной области работы, дающей также достаточно подробный анализ культурфилософских экспликаций проблемы текста в постмодернистской парадигме, а также подчеркивает актуальность избранной автором темы исследования в целом. Результаты исследования имеют как методологическое, так и мировоззренческое значение для постижения смысловых оснований культуры и проблемы взаимодействия мышления, языка и культуры в рамках лингвофилософского дискурса, когнитивной теории культуры, а также исследований в области моделирования когнитивных процессов.Область применения результатов. Текст — это сложное динамическое образование, которое для своего понимания требует от читателя не только знание языковых кодов и культурных реалий, которые позволяют раскрыть невербализуемые смыслы в тексте, но и «деятельного сотрудничества». Такой подход дает возможность выявить некоторые механизмы формирования текстовых предпочтений личности, сценариев речевого поведения, социальные факторы, обусловливающие этот персональный выбор. Поэтому, результаты исследования могут быть использованы при разработке учебных курсов по соответствующим дисциплинам: культурологии, лингвокультурологии, семиотике культуры, а также при создании учебных пособий.
ОБЩЕСТВО РИСКА В ЭПОХУ НАРАСТАЮЩЕЙ НЕОПРЕДЕЛЕННОСТИ: АНТРОПОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ
Authors: Grtsenko Galina Dmitrievna
Published: December 2020

В статье представлен анализ современного общества риска в постмодернистскую эпоху с точки зрения антропологического измерения. Опираясь на теоретическое наследие Н. Лумана, У. Бека, Э. Гидденса, О.Н. Яницкого, были обоснованы положения о максимальном сосредоточении рисков в политико-управленческой сфере и снижении социальной ответственности человека. В статье показано, что в современном постмодернистском обществе усиливаются «риски глобализации» (У. Бек), что обусловлено в определенной степени возрастанием роли масс-медиа в социокультурном пространстве, значимыми элементами которого выступают экспертное знание и общественное мнение. Разрастание рискогенности и неопределенности в политико-управленческой сфере проявляется в актуализации «дерева решений» и оценки «порога бедствия» (Н. Луман), что обостряет антропологическую проблему, для решения которой был использован концепт амбивалентного человека. Увеличивающаяся неопределенность ведет к активизации двух основных образов человека: «человека ценностного» и «человека институционального». В социокультурном пространстве общества постмодерна начинают преобладать образ свободного виртуального человека как представителя «новых интеллектуалов», формирующих общественное мнение, с одной стороны, и образ «институционального человека» «согласованных стратегий» как политически ангажированных экспертов, тиражирующих экспертное знание, с другой стороны. Это ведет к дальнейшему нарастанию неопределенности в обществе риска и снижению уровня социальной ответственности человека, особенно в политико-управленческой сфере. Делается вывод, что одним из возможных механизмов уменьшения степени неопределенности и рискогенности в обществе постмодерна становится системное мировоззрение, обеспечивающее человеку способность предвидеть возможное развитие событий и предотвратить вероятностные нежелательные последствия, что важно при принятии политико-управленческих решений.
ОСОБЕННОСТИ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ФИЛОСОФСКОЙ РЕФЛЕКСИИ ФЕНОМЕНА ТЕХНОЛОГИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ ИНФОРМАТИЗАЦИИ ПОСТИНДУСТРИАЛЬНОГО ОБЩЕСТВА
Authors: Pelevin Sergei Igorevich
Published: December 2020

Цель. Актуальность социально-философского анализа и рефлексии технологии как феномена социальной реальности приобретает особую значимость в современном мире в условиях глобальной пандемии, которая вывела информатизацию постиндустриального общества на качественно новый уровень. В статье постиндустриальное общество рассматривается также как общество постмодерна, в котором на смену центрации и тотальности классического индустриального Модерна приходят децентрация и фрагментация. Кроме того, в работе указано, что, в постиндустриальном обществе под каталитическим воздействием процессов информатизации особую значимость приобретают постматериальные ценности, то есть экологические императивы, ценности социального государства, и гражданских свобод.Задачи. Рассмотреть развитие постиндустриального общества в контексте техногенного прорыва и обобщить уже имеющийся научный опыт по данной проблематике.Методы. В результате применения вышеуказанных теорий и концептуальных схем в фокус исследовательского интереса вместе с процессами информатизации попадают сопутствующие процессы цифровизации и медиатизации общества и социальных структур.Результаты. Сделан вывод о том, что в постиндустриальном обществе технологический прорыв, связанный с процессами информатизации и цифровизации, приводит к появлению новых рисков для социальных субъектов.Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования негативных и позитивных тенденций и сопутствующих рисков процессов информатизации в современных условиях глобализации и цифровизации жизнедеятельности индивидов с учетом контроля за их деятельностью со стороны социальных структур могут быть применены различными социальными структурами с целью обобщения и уточнения информации, особенно в условиях посткарантинного мира.
De filósofo a erósofo. (Nota de adiós al meditador sensualista).
Authors: Sevilla José M. , Fellmann Ferdinand
Published: December 2020

Una nota sobre Ferdinand Fellmann, pensador recientemente fallecido (28/10/2019). El filósofo discípulo de Blumemberg, interesado por Vico desde los años setenta, ha sido colaborador de Cuadernos sobre Vico en estos últimos años.
Vico y el descubrimiento del conocimiento histórico.
Authors: Tessitore Fulvio
Published: December 2020

: El Autor repropone aquí, por dos razones, el esbozo de una interpretación de la filosofía de Vico. Una razón, la de destacar el trabajo historiográfico de las ediciones críticas de las tres Scienza nuova (1725, 1730, 1744); y el otro motivo es la idea viquiana de la filología como ciencia: ciencia ética del comprender y no solamente instrumento ecdótico: razonar qué hace Vico en sus textos, para comprenderlos y así intentar comprender el significado que tuvo en su época y el papel que puede tener en la filosofía contemporánea.
Lo que se aprende de Vico (1889) – Traducción y Presentación por M. Barrios Casares. Pp.: 293-302; pres.
Authors: Sorel Georges
Published: December 2020

Traducción española a cargo de Manuel Barrios Casares del texto alemán de Georges Sorel (1847-1922) Lo que se aprende de Vico (1898).
An Automated Magnetic Separation Device Coupled with a Fluorescent Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Residues
Authors: Liang Aoming , Shen Yafang , He Yawen , Wang Jianping , Li Yanbin
Published: December 2020

Highlights

A practical magnetic separation device was designed, fabricated, and evaluated for enrofloxacin detection.

Coupled with a fluorescent biosensor, the device could automatically process a sample in 50 min.

The device performed incubation and magnetic separation using a pipette method.

The device has the advantages of low-cost and feasibility for on-site detection.

Abstract. Antibiotic residues have been a continuing concern in food safety, raising a great issue in human health. For rapid detection of antibiotics, an automated device was developed that can capture and separate a target analyte based on immunomagnetic beads. This automated separation device is suitable for separating the magnetic beads in a preprocessing step, with liquid transfer and magnetic enrichment functions. The device was combined with a fluorescent biosensor to simplify the cumbersome pretreatment of enrofloxacin. In our experiments, enrofloxacin in water samples was used as the detection object, and the entire process could be completed in less than 50 min with automated operation. The lower limit of detection reached 54 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3). The fluorescent biosensor has been enhanced with this automated separation device for more sensitive rapid detection of antibiotic residues in the food supply chain and environment. Keywords: Antibiotic detection, Automation, Fluorescent biosensor, Immunomagnetic separation, Sample pretreatment.
A FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATION OF VENDORS IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
Authors: Kumar Raman , Singh Harwinder , Singh Amrinder
Published: December 2020

Vendor selection is the first step in the product realization process that starts with the purchasing of materials and ends with delivering the products. The objective of the present research is to select the best vendor in a leading automobile organization. The multi-criteria decision making techniques of fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) and the Analytical Network Process (ANP) were applied to achieve reliable results. A case study of a manufacturing unit in northern India was used to validate the proposed framework. The output of the QFD showed the pre-qualified vendors as V3, V2 and V7 with relative user requirement (RUR) values of 0.188, 0.145 and 0.134, respectively. The final ranking of the vendors is presented using the ANP model.
ISAHP2020 Virtual Conference
Authors: Saaty Rozann W.
Published: December 2020

Participants from more than 30 countries attended the first virtual conference of the International Symposium of the AHP (ISAHP) in December 3-6, 2020, sponsored by Creative Decisions Foundation. It was the 16th ISAHP conference since the first in 1988 at Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. The ISAHP2020 is a biennial event that takes place in even years, but it was cancelled in January because of Covid19 fears. It was brought back to life in late summer when the board of Creative Decisions Foundation agreed to sponsor a virtual conference in December. Planning a conference usually takes much more than the few months that remained until the end of the year, so expectations were modest, but the AHP community rose to support it in a major way.
GROWTH EVALUATION OF CROSSBRED HOLSTEIN×GYR CALVES AND HEIFERS RAISED IN TROPICAL CONDITIONS
Authors: Reis Helena de Souza , Castro Caroline Medeiros , Silva Ana Caroline Ramos Teles , Sousa Thais Gomes Araújo , Moura André Morais , Silva Alex Lopes
Published: December 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth and body development of crossbred Holstein×Gyr calves and heifers raised in tropical conditions. Thirty-two crossbred heifers (Holstein×Gyr) aged between 1 and 1314 days were used. For assessing the animals’ body weight, the heifers were weighed once a week with a chest tape for weighing cattle, using the specification for medium breeds recorded on the tape itself. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Body weight data were analyzed using linear regression as a function of age, using the R software. We could observe that animals less than 200 days old had a performance estimate of approximately 0.517 kg day-1, while after at 200 days of life, the estimated weight gain was 0.237 kg day-1. Heifers had a higher growth rate before 200 days of age than after this age, which can affect the age at the first calving of the herd. Thus, as the age for the first breeding is linked to the weight of the live animals, the delay in the growth of the calves becomes detrimental to the breeding.
Les barques de pas i el retaule de Sant Bernardí de Siena (1455-1456) de l'església de Sant Francesc d'Estampatx (Càller, Sardenya)
Authors: Pujol i Hamelink Marcel
Published: December 2020

A l’Edat Mitjana, hi havien diferents maneres de creuar un riu. Si era possible, les persones, els animals i els carros buscaven un pas o gual on poder passar a peu, sempre i quan el corrent no fos molt fort ni l’aigua passés de la cintura. Quan no es podia passar a peu es construïren ponts o bé s’utilitzaren barques per a poder passar d’una riba a l’altra. D’aquestes barques de pas n’hi van haver de dos tipus, la primera utilitzada al riu Ebre i la segona a la resta de rius catalans. El retaule de Sant Bernardí del convent de Sant Francesc d’Estampatx (Càller, Sardenya) ens mostra una imatge totalment excepcioanl a la taula on el sant travessà el riu Mincio. L’autor, el barceloní Rafael Tomàs, pintà una barca de pas, de les que anomenem de llibant i castell, com les que coneixia del riu Llobregat.
Les petits gens de Paris (1952). A l’inici del dibuix humanista de RIU SERRA
Authors: Riu-Barrera Eduard
Published: December 2020

El 1952 l’escultor Julià Riu i Serra (1921-2006), concisament RIU SERRA en la signatura, fou becat a París pel programa d’ajuts del Cercle Maillol de l’Institut Francès de Barcelona, de gran importància en el panorama artístic català de postguerra. A més d’impregnar-se de la ciutat i resseguir-hi les col·leccions d’art antic, modern i extra europeu, hi va realitzar la sèrie de dibuixos Les petits gens de Paris, presentada aquí. Exposats el 1953 i llargament inconeguts, són obres de línia simple a ploma que capten escenes de carrer amb protagonistes humils que fan via, feinegen o vagaregen i que entronquen amb el realisme social, la fotografia documental i l’humanisme
Dual-polarized nanocrescent antenna designed using efficient optimization techniques
Authors: Hassan Abdel-Karim S. O. , Etman Ahmed S. , Soliman Ezzeldin A.
Published: December 2020

A novel nanocrescent antenna with polarization diversity is introduced. It is formed from a crescent-shaped patch fed with a coupled strip transmission line. The antenna is located on top of a

S
i
O

2

thin film with a shielding ground layer underneath. The structure is supported by an arbitrary substrate. Polarization of the radiated field can be adjusted to be along either one of the two orthogonal polarizations based on which one of the two crescent patch modes is going to be excited. The excitation of either one of these two modes of the patch is achieved by switching between the two propagating modes of the feeding coupled strip transmission line. Using a dual-polarized antenna allows doubling the optical communication system’s capacity via frequency reuse. The new crescent antenna dimensions are optimized to satisfy several goals, such as minimizing the losses, the deviation of the main beam direction away from broadside, and maximizing the radiation efficiency and axial ratio. Through the optimization process, simple surrogate kriging models replace the detailed electromagnetic simulation. The optimal response is achieved by applying two different optimizers. The first optimizer employs the design-centering technique using normed distances. The multiobjective particle swarm with the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations is used by the second optimizer. In order to identify the critical dimensions to which the nanoantenna is most sensitive, a sensitivity analysis is used. The optimized antenna is capable of switching its radiation between two orthogonal pure linear polarizations with maximum radiation along the broadside direction. The size of the proposed antenna is about

500

n
m

×

500

n
m

. Its impedance-matching bandwidth is higher than 30 THz centered around 193 THz (1550 nm). Its gain and radiation efficiency are higher than 5.2 dBi and 85%, respectively, all over the working frequency band.
Two-dimensional vibration actuated polishing of small surfaces by generating random-like Lissajous trajectories
Authors: Li Yucheng , Zhou Xiaoqin , Liu Qiang
Published: December 2020

Small-surface optical components with complex shapes and high-precision requirements are increasingly needed in the fields of mobile communications, in vivo diagnosis, and other fields. Some scholars have studied and proposed a two-dimensional vibration actuated polishing (2D-VAP) method based on small polishing tools for the preparation of small-surface optical elements. Using the nonresonant 2D-VAP device developed by the author, the frequency and amplitude of 2D-VAP are precisely adjusted to generate a random-like Lissajous polishing trajectory, which can overcome the problem that most of the existing 2D-VAP methods generate a circular or elliptical polishing trajectory at the small polishing tool, resulting in leaving periodic polishing marks on the workpiece surface. The removal function model under the condition of random-like Lissajous polishing motion with a small polishing tool is established. In addition, the removal function verification experiments and surface polishing experiments are carried out. The experimental results show that the measured removal function is in good agreement with that obtained by numerical simulation. Compared with the circular polishing trajectory, the random-like Lissajous polishing trajectory can significantly improve the material removal rate, and there are no obvious periodic polishing marks on the workpiece surface.
Development of monolayer AuNPs decorated on an optical fiber facet for SERS analysis
Authors: Gu Ciyong , Zhao Zhimin , Shi Pengcheng
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we present a novel strategy for fabricating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) optical probe modified monolayer gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by a seed-mediated growth method. The morphology and optical properties of the samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The results show that the resulting probes exhibit high sensitivity with a detection limit down to

10

−
9

m
o
l

/

L

for Methylene Blue solution and

10

−
8

m
o
l

/

L

for both Crystal Violet and Rhodamine 6G solutions. Furthermore, the probes show an excellent reproducibility (relative standard deviation of 9.2% at

1621

c
m

−
1

) and good stability, and the SERS spectra can be reproduced after storing the probes for one month in air. Finally, by finite-element simulations, we investigate the electromagnetic field distribution of the fiber facet modified with AuNPs. This work provides a promising potential of prepared SERS fiber probes and has broad application prospects in food safety, pesticide residue analysis, and environmental surveillance.
Thin silicon interference solar cells for targeted or broadband wavelength absorption enhancement
Authors: Durmaz Zeynep , Husein Sebastian , Saive Rebecca
Published: December 2020

We present the concept of interference solar cells reliant on spectrum filtering or splitting to enhance absorption in thin (<13 µm) silicon absorber layers, both for targeted wavelengths and broadband absorption. Absorption enhancement in the long wavelength regime is achieved by fine-tuning of device layer thicknesses to provide destructive interference between reflected and escaped waves. We suggest this concept is also suitable for broadband absorption enhancement when combined with spectrum splitting optics through gradual thickness changes laterally across the device. Using the example of silicon heterojunction solar cells, we have computationally demonstrated a short circuit current density enhancement of 19% (from 25.8 mA/cm2 to 30.7 mA/cm2) compared to a silicon heterojunction cell of the same absorber layer thickness.
Mechanism and sensitivity of Fano resonance tuning in high-contrast gratings
Authors: Yao Hsin-Yu , Her Tsing-Hua
Published: December 2020

We develop a theory for Fano resonance tuning in dual-mode high-contrast gratings (HCGs). Compact analytical formulas of tuning sensitivity are derived and verified numerically, and are in good agreement with reported experiments. We show that the resonance tuning in HCGs, containing cooperative contribution from two propagating modes, is fundamentally different from that in single-mode microresonators. Our theory reveals the important role of the higher-order mode, which can possess large modal dispersion, especially in the long-wavelength limit beyond the cutoff of slab waveguides, to enable large tuning sensitivity. Our findings will simplify the design and optimization of active and passive tuning in HCG resonators.
Identification of chironomid species as natural reservoirs of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae strains with pandemic potential
Authors: Laviad-Shitrit Sivan , Sela Rotem , Thorat Leena , Sharaby Yehonatan , Izhaki Ido , Nath Bimalendu B. , Halpern Malka
Published: December 2020

Vibrio cholerae causes the fatal cholera diarrhea. Chironomids (Diptera; Chironomidae) are abundant in freshwater aquatic habitats and estuaries and are natural reservoirs of V. cholerae. Until now, only the non-O1/O139 serogroups of V. cholerae were identified in chironomids. Here, we explored whether chironomids are natural reservoirs of V. cholerae O1/O139 serogroups, which are associated with cholera endemics and pandemics. All four life stages of chironomids were sampled from two rivers, and a laboratory culture in Pune, India, and from a pond in Israel. In total, we analyzed 223 chironomid samples. The presence of V. cholerae O1/O139 serogroups was verified using molecular tools. Nine chironomid species were identified; of them, Chironomus circumdatus was the most abundant. The presence of V. cholerae serogroup O1 and the cholera toxin genes were detected in samples from all chironomid species. However, serogroup O139 was detected in only two chironomid species. Besides PCR to detect specific genes, a metagenomic analysis that was performed in three selected C. ramosus larvae, identified a list of virulence genes associated with V. cholerae. The findings provide evidence that chironomids are natural reservoirs of toxigenic V. cholerae O1/O139. Chironomid populations and V. cholerae show biannual peak patterns. A similar pattern is found for cholera epidemics in the Bengal Delta region. Thus, we hypothesize that monitoring chironomids in endemic areas of the disease may provide a novel tool for predicting and preventing cholera epidemics. Moreover, serogroup O139 was detected only in two chironomid species that have a restricted distribution in the Indian subcontinent, possibly explaining why the distribution of the O139 serogroup is limited.
Spreading of COVID-19: Density matters
Authors: Wong David W. S. , Li Yun
Published: December 2020

Physical distancing has been argued as one of the effective means to combat the spread of COVID-19 before a vaccine or therapeutic drug becomes available. How far people can be spatially separated is partly behavioral but partly constrained by population density. Most models developed to predict the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. do not include population density explicitly. This study shows that population density is an effective predictor of cumulative infection cases in the U.S. at the county level. Daily cumulative cases by counties are converted into 7-day moving averages. Treating the weekly averages as the dependent variable and the county population density levels as the explanatory variable, both in logarithmic scale, this study assesses how population density has shaped the distributions of infection cases across the U.S. from early March to late May, 2020. Additional variables reflecting the percentages of African Americans, Hispanic-Latina, and older adults in logarithmic scale are also included. Spatial regression models with a spatial error specification are also used to account for the spatial spillover effect. Population density alone accounts for 57% of the variation (R-squared) in the aspatial models and up to 76% in the spatial models. Adding the three population subgroup percentage variables raised the R-squared of the aspatial models to 72% and the spatial model to 84%. The influences of the three population subgroups were substantial, but changed over time, while the contributions of population density have been quite stable after the first several weeks, ascertaining the importance of population density in shaping the spread of infection in individual counties, and in their neighboring counties. Thus, population density and sizes of vulnerable population subgroups should be explicitly included in transmission models that predict the impacts of COVID-19, particularly at the sub-county level.