bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and properties of water-based acrylic emulsion-assisted flexible building tiles
Authors: Zhang Wu , Bai Jingchen , Zhou Changlin , Yu Hong , Wang Lei
Published: February 2022

Water-based acrylic emulsion-assisted flexible building tiles were prepared and applied to a kind of building facing material for construction.
Two-dimensional heterostructures built from ultrathin CeO2 nanosheet surface-coordinated and confined metal–organic frameworks with enhanced stability and catalytic performance
Authors: An Haiyan , Hu Yang , Song Nan , Mu Tingliang , Bai Shiqiang , Peng Yong , Liu Liangliang , Tang Yu
Published: February 2022

A synthetic strategy to prepare 2D heterostructures from ultrathin CeO2 surface-coordinated metal–organic framework was proposed, proving multiple effects of metal-coordinated interactions in 2D heterostructures.
Multi-level encryption of information in morphing hydrogels with patterned fluorescence
Authors: Hou Li Xin , Ding Hongyao , Hao Xing Peng , Zhu Chao Nan , Du Miao , Wu Zi Liang , Zheng Qiang
Published: February 2022

We describe a strategy to improve information security by combining shape morphing and patterned fluorescence in a bilayer hydrogel. The information concealed in the hydrogel becomes readable after shape recovery and under UV light irradiation.
Comparison of Stuttering Severity and Anxiety During Standard and Challenge Phone Calls
Authors: O'Brian Sue , Onslow Mark , Jones Mark , Lowe Robyn , Packman Ann , Menzies Ross
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

This study was designed to answer three questions. (a) Does percentage of syllables stuttered (%SS) differ between standard and challenge phone calls. (b) Does anxiety differ between standard and challenge phone calls. (c) Is there a relationship between %SS and anxiety during standard and challenge phone calls?

Method:

Participants were 230 adults diagnosed with stuttering, who were participants from five clinical trials. Each participant received two 10-min phone calls at pretreatment and a further two phone calls 6 months or 20 weeks postrandomization. One phone call was standard, and the other presented challenge: occasionally disagreeing with, interrupting, and talking over participants, or asking for clarification of their views.

Results:

Statistically significant, but clinically minor, increases of %SS and anxiety occurred during the challenge phone calls. There was a statistically significant association between %SS and anxiety.

Conclusions:

Variable phone call procedures to assess stuttering severity in clinical trials are not likely to spuriously inflate or deflate treatment outcomes to a clinically important extent. Regardless, the present results suggest that there is statistical merit in controlling the nature of phone calls during clinical trials with the simple and replicable method developed in this report. Additionally, there is procedural merit in the challenge phone call procedure; it is a more valid representation of the challenges of everyday speech than the standard procedure. However, a disadvantage of the challenge phone call procedure is the practical issues associated with its use. The clinical and theoretical applications of the results are discussed.
IRLSOT: Inverse reinforcement learning for scene‐oriented trajectory prediction
Authors: He Caizhen , Chen Lanping , Xu Liming , Yang Changchun , Liu Xiaofeng , Yang Biao
Published: February 2022

Forecasting pedestrians' future trajectory in unknown complex environments is essential to autonomous navigation in real‐world applications, for example, for self‐driving cars and collision warnings. However, modern observed trajectory‐based prediction methods may easily over‐fit to complex or rare scenes because they do not entirely understand the correlations between scenes and trajectories. To address the over‐fitting problem, an Inverse Reinforcement Learning for Scene‐oriented Trajectory Prediction (IRLSOT) is proposed in this work. The authors' method can be divided into three modules. First, the inverse reinforcement learning module generates the optimal policy by extracting features from scenes and pedestrians' observed trajectories. A lightweight ENet is used to extract features from scenes. Afterwards, the path sampling module introduces a Gumbel Softmax Trick (GST) to improve the accuracy of optimal policy sampling. Different paths are generated on the basis of the optimal policies. Finally, the information fusion module uses the proposed Scene Based Attention (SBA) to fuse the path and trajectory information, then outputs the predicted trajectories. Comparison results show that IRLSOT improves performance on Stanford Drone Database(SDD) by 5.9. Furthermore, the authors' test IRLSOT on multi‐agent scenarios and the authors' own data sets, and results demonstrate that IRLSOT can enhance the generalization of trajectory prediction to rare or new scenes.
Solitons in the dark: First approach to non-linear structure formation with fuzzy dark matter
Authors: Mina Mattia , Mota David F. , Winther Hans A.
Published: February 2022

We present the results of a full cosmological simulation with the new codeSCALAR, where dark matter is in the form of fuzzy dark matter (FDM), described by a light scalar field with a mass ofmB = 2.5 × 10−22eV and evolving according to the Schrödinger-Poisson system of equations. In comoving units, the simulation volume is 2.5 h−1Mpc on a side, with a resolution of 20 h−1pc at the highest refinement level. While the resulting large-scale resolution prevents us from studying the general properties of the FDM structure formation, the extremely high small-scale resolution allows a detailed analysis of the formation and evolution of central solitonic cores, which are found to leave their imprints on dark matter density profiles, resulting in shallower central densities, and on rotation curves, producing an additional circular velocity peak at small radii from the centre. Despite the limitations on the large-scale resolution, we find that the suppression of structures due to the quantum nature of the scalar field reveals indications of a shallower halo mass function in the low-mass end compared to the case of a ΛCDM simulation, in which dark matter is expected to cluster at all mass scales even if it was evolved with the same initial conditions as used for FDM. Furthermore, we verify the scaling relations characterising the solution to the Schrödinger–Poisson system for both isolated and merging haloes, and we find that they are preserved by merging processes. We characterise each FDM halo in terms of the dimensionless quantity Ξ ∝ Ehalo/Mhalo3, and we show that the core mass is tightly linked to the halo mass by the core–halo mass relationMcore/Mhalo ∝ Ξ1/3. We also show that the core surface density of the simulated FDM haloes does not follow the scaling with the core radius, as observed for dwarf galaxies. This is a challenge for the FDM model as the sole explanation of core formation.
Muskuloskelettale Therapie bei Musikerinnen und Musikern
Authors: Zalpour Christoff
Published: February 2022

Obwohl sich die Anforderungen im Sport und dem Musizieren ähneln, ist die Musikerphysiotherapie längst nicht so entwickelt wie die Sportphysiotherapie. Dabei lassen sich die sogenannten „Performance-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders“ erfolgreich mit Manueller Therapie oder Physiotherapie, z. B. mit Hilfe einer Bewegungsanalyse, therapieren. Prof. Dr. med. Christoff Zalpour gibt einen Überblick über das Feld der Musikerphysiotherapie, deren Potenzial noch lange nicht vollends erschlossen ist.
„Ein Ziel der Therapie sollte sein, Pathophysiologie, die sich in Symptomen ausdrückt, wieder in die Physiologie zurückzubringen.“
Authors: van den Berg Frans , Schleip Robert
Published: February 2022

Dr. Robert Schleip (RS), Humanbiologe, Dipl.-Psychologe und Faszienforscher, trifft auf den Physio- und Manualtherapeuten sowie Autor zahlreicher Fachbücher Frans van den Berg (FB) (Abb. 1).
Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Direct Annulation of Alkoxyallenes and Naphthols to Chroman Ketals
Authors: Zhang Cong , Jiang Gaoxi , He Maosheng , Zhang Jinlong , Wang Hao-Yang
Published: February 2022

A straightforward Brønsted acid-catalyzed and scalable annulation of alkoxyallenes with simple naphthols was developed, affording chroman ketals in 49–84% yields. The versatile chroman ketals can be easily converted into coumarins by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ)-mediated oxidation, and a series of 2-substituted chromans via nucleophilic substitutions.
Evaluation of exchange-correlation effects on the heat-shielding performance of carrier electrons in LaB6 using momentum-transfer resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy
Authors: Sato Yohei K. , Terauchi Masami
Published: February 2022

Exchange-correlation (XC) effects in carrier electrons have a significant influence on the dielectric properties and electric characteristics of a material. In this study, momentum-transfer (q) resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy was conducted to experimentally evaluate the XC effects of carrier electrons in LaB6 bulk crystals, whose nanoparticles have been used for near-infrared-light shielding filters. By measuring q dependence of plasmon energy due to carrier electrons and evaluating the deviation from the free electron gas model in random phase approximation, the dielectric correction factor due to the XC effects, i.e., the local field correction G(q), for the carrier electrons in LaB6 were experimentally derived. This experimental result confirmed that the XC effects are non-negligible for the carrier electrons in LaB6. Because the XC effects influence dipole surface plasmon energy of LaB6 nanoparticles, the evaluation of the XC effects is important for a precise understanding of the optical properties of LaB6 nanoparticles.
Seed germination requirements of an Australian semi-arid floodplain
Authors: Higgisson William , Reynolds Breanna , Cross Yasmin , Dyer Fiona
Published: February 2022

Plants that occur on floodplains in dryland regions often use floods to disperse and germinate seeds, which establish during and following flooding events. Acacia stenophylla (river cooba) is a perennial tree, common in the riparian habitats of the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. The aims of this study were to (1) determine the relationship between seed germination and seedling establishment of A. stenophylla and hydrological conditions, (2) determine the buoyancy of its seeds and, hence, ability to disperse by hydrochory and (3) provide recommendations on the hydrological requirements for A. stenophylla recruitment. Seedling recruitment data collected between 2014 and 2020 on the floodplain of the lower Lachlan River were compared with time since flooding. In a glasshouse experiment, seeds of A. stenophylla within their pods and with their pods removed were exposed to one of five experimental treatments (rainfall, soaked soil, and inundated for 20 and 40 days), over a period of 50 days. A. stenophylla germinated during and following flooding and following high rainfall. Seeds in pods floated for 8 days. A. stenophylla establishes during and following flooding and requires 1 month of flooding followed by flood recession to maximise seed germination. This research contributes to our broader understanding of the reproductive biology of one of the less studied Acacia species.
Patterns of variation in subject-indexing prefixes in Vatlongos, Southeast Ambrym
Authors: Ridge Eleanor
Published: February 2022

This paper describes four patterns of variation in the subject-indexing paradigm of Vatlongos (Oceanic, Vanuatu). It explores their quantitative distribution in a corpus of monologic texts from speakers in three different communities: Mele Maat, a relocated peri-urban community; Endu, which has a distinct dialect; and Ase-Taveak, the other villages of Southeast Ambrym. Speakers in Mele Maat are more likely to use a zero variant of the third person singular Non-future prefix and shorter syllabic variants, and less likely to use the paucal number category. All three patterns suggest formal simplification in the Mele Maat community. The latter two patterns are also associated with higher levels of education, and consequent greater exposure to national and international languages. Overall these patterns suggest that changes which involve reduction of distinctions in morphological paradigms are more likely to be accelerated in contexts of language endangerment than phonological change or phonological reduction.
Word order variation in Chinese existential constructions with V-măn
Authors: Chiu Miao-Chin
Published: February 2022

UnderTalmy’s (2000a)framework of Figure and Ground segregation, this paper examines the word order variation between constructions [NPFigureV-mănNPGround] and [NPGroundV-mănNPFigure] regarding Chinese existential phenomenon, that is,Mìfēng fēi-măn le huāyuán. ‘Bees swarm in the garden.’ andHuāyuán fēi-măn le mìfēng.‘The garden swarms with bees.’

In this data-driven study, 263 monosyllabic verbs are investigated and 1456 news texts are collected for a quantitative analysis. This study has successfully identified linguistic factors that can better account for the distributional patterns of the word order alternation in the corpora. Results of the VARBRUL analysis indicate that topicality of the post verbal NP and definiteness of Figure NP play a relatively crucial role in determining the word order choice, while semantic type of verb and animacy of Figure NP are less influential. This paper presents a variationist perspective on the motivations that trigger the use of Chinese existential construction [NPGroundV-mănNPFigure].
Concessive conditionals beyond Europe
Authors: Bossuyt Tom
Published: February 2022

The present study is concerned with complex sentences known as concessive conditionals from a functional-typological perspective. It examines the coding strategies used in the protasis of the three subtypes of concessive conditionals – viz. scalar, alternative, and universal concessive conditionals – in a global sample of 17 languages, thus complementing a previous study of their formal properties in European languages (Haspelmath & König 1998). The results include some coding strategies which are unattested in European languages and suggest that Haspelmath & König’s division between languages which mark the three subtypes uniformly and languages which mark them differentially is too simplistic, there being at least four overall marking patterns rather than two. Although these results are only preliminary in nature, they do look promising for future research, which should be based on a larger and more strictly stratified sample.
Identifying Opioid-Related Electronic Health Record Phenotypes for Emergency Care Research and Surveillance: An Expert Consensus Driven Concept Mapping Process
Authors: Taylor R. Andrew , Fiellin David , D'Onofrio Gail , Venkatesh Arjun K.
Published: February 2022

Background: Case identification for many areas of opioid research and surveillance in the emergency department (ED) is challenging as patients are often undifferentiated with nonspecific symptoms and diagnostic codes have proven to be inaccurate. Opioid-related phenotypes based on combinations of electronic health record data are a promising method to address this gap but lack a consensus-based conceptual framework to aid organization and prioritization. Methods: To achieve consensus around opioid-related phenotype topics in the ED, we used a hybrid scheme that employed modified Delphi and conceptual mapping methods. The combined iterative process used three rounds of electronic meetings and questionnaires to generate consensus recommendations and concept mappings based on the opinions and feedback of the 9 member Delphi panel. Mean importance and feasibility scores based on 5-point Likert scales (1 = relatively unimportant (infeasible) to 5 = extremely important (feasible)) for each statement/phenotype were calculated. We used multidimensional scaling to produce a point map of the phenotype concepts and hierarchical cluster analysis to generate concept maps. Results: After the first round, 120 initial phenotype concepts were proposed which were reduced to 73 concepts after normalization by the research team. Opioid overdose (9.54, SD = 0.9) had the highest combined importance and feasibility score. A final labeled 12-cluster solution was determined to be the most parsimonious description of the content by the research team. Three key groups emerged: opioid overdose, other opioid-specific phenotypes (opioid use disorder, opioid misuse, and opioid withdrawal) with significant concept overlap and opioid use-related phenotypes (homelessness, falls, infections, and suicidality). Conclusions: Using an expert consensus driven concept mapping process we identified specific opioid phenotype concepts within an overlapping schema that carry high priority for development and validation to advance emergency care opioid-related research and surveillance.
Realization of Fast All-Microwave Controlled-Z Gates with a Tunable Coupler
Authors: Li Shaowei , Fan Daojin , Gong Ming , Ye Yangsen , Chen Xiawei , Wu Yulin , Guan Huijie , Deng Hui , Rong Hao , Huang He-Liang , Zha Chen , Yan Kai , Guo Shaojun , Qian Haoran , Zhang Haibin , Chen Fusheng , Zhu Qingling , Zhao Youwei , Wang Shiyu , Ying Chong , Cao Sirui , Yu Jiale , Liang Futian , Xu Yu , Lin Jin , Guo Cheng , Sun Lihua , Li Na , Han Lianchen , Peng Cheng-Zhi , Zhu Xiaobo , Pan Jian-Wei
Published: February 2022

The development of high-fidelity two-qubit quantum gates is essential for digital quantum computing. Here, we propose and realize an all-microwave parametric controlled-Z (CZ) gates by coupling strength modulation in a superconducting Transmon qubit system with tunable couplers. After optimizing the design of the tunable coupler together with the control pulse numerically, we experimentally realized a 100 ns CZ gate with high fidelity of 99.38% ± 0.34% and the control error being 0.1%. We note that our CZ gates are not affected by pulse distortion and do not need pulse correction, providing a solution for the real-time pulse generation in a dynamic quantum feedback circuit. With the expectation of utilizing our all-microwave control scheme to reduce the number of control lines through frequency multiplexing in the future, our scheme draws a blueprint for the high-integrable quantum hardware design.
Vertical ionization potential benchmarks from Koopmans prediction of Kohn–Sham theory with long-range corrected (LC) functional*
Authors: Hirao Kimihiko , Bae Han-Seok , Song Jong-Won , Chan Bun
Published: February 2022

The Kohn–Sham density functional theory (KS-DFT) with the long-range corrected (LC) functional is applied to the benchmark dataset of 401 valence ionization potentials (IPs) of 63 small molecules of Chong, Gritsenko and Baerends (the CGB set). The vertical IP of the CGB set are estimated as negative orbital energies within the context of the Koopmans’ prediction using the LCgau-core range-separation scheme in combination with PW86–PW91 exchange–correlation functional. The range separation parameter μ of the functional is tuned to minimize the error of the negative HOMO orbital energy from experimental IP. The results are compared with literature data, including ab initio IP variant of the equation-of-motion coupled cluster theory with singles and doubles (IP-EOM-CCSD), the negative orbital energies calculated by KS-DFT with the statistical averaging of orbital potential, and those with the QTP family of functionals. The optimally tuned LC functional performs better than other functionals for the estimation of valence level IP. The mean absolute deviations (MAD) from experiment and from IP-EOM-CCSD are 0.31 eV (1.77%) and 0.25 eV (1.46%), respectively. LCgau-core performs quite well even with fixed μ (not system-dependent). A μ value around 0.36 bohr−1 gives MAD of 0.40 eV (2.42%) and 0.33 eV (1.96%) relative to experiment and IP-EOM-CCSD, respectively. The LCgau-core-PW86–PW91 functional is an efficient alternative to IP-EOM-CCSD and it is reasonably accurate for outer valence orbitals. We have also examined its application to core ionization energies of C(1s), N(1s), O(1s) and F(1s). The C(1s) core ionization energies are reproduced reasonably [MAD of 46 cases is 0.76 eV (0.26%)] but N(1s), O(1s) and F(1s) core ionization energies are predicted less accurately.
Reaction–drift–diffusion models from master equations: application to material defects
Authors: Swinburne Thomas D , Perez Danny
Published: February 2022

We present a general method to produce well-conditioned continuum reaction–drift–diffusion equations directly from master equations on a discrete, periodic state space. We assume the underlying data to be kinetic Monte Carlo models (i.e. continuous-time Markov chains) produced from atomic sampling of point defects in locally periodic environments, such as perfect lattices, ordered surface structures or dislocation cores, possibly under the influence of a slowly varying external field. Our approach also applies to any discrete, periodic Markov chain. The analysis identifies a previously omitted non-equilibrium drift term, present even in the absence of external forces, which can compete in magnitude with the reaction rates, thus being essential to correctly capture the kinetics. To remove fast modes which hinder time integration, we use a generalized Bloch relation to efficiently calculate the eigenspectrum of the master equation. A well conditioned continuum equation then emerges by searching for spectral gaps in the long wavelength limit, using an established kinetic clustering algorithm to define a proper reduced, Markovian state space.
Medical applications of magnetorheological fluid: a systematic review
Authors: Liu Gaoyu , Gao Fei , Wang Daihua , Liao Wei-Hsin
Published: February 2022

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid, whose rheological properties can be changed reversibly by applied magnetic field, offers superior capabilities and opportunities since its invention. The most crucial feature of MR fluid is its controllable and continuous yield stress. Taking this advantage, MR fluid is gaining popularity in various medical applications to meet their force/torque requirements. In this review article, progress of medical applications of MR fluid in the last two decades are systematically reviewed, mainly focused on six categories: lower limb prosthesis, exoskeleton, orthosis, rehabilitation device, haptic master, and tactile display. With MR fluid, natural and stable limb motions in lower limb prostheses, exoskeletons, and orthoses, flexible muscle trainings in rehabilitation devices, and high transparency and resolution haptic feedback can be realized. Relevant discussions and future perspectives are also provided.
Raman-induced transfer of optical vortices
Authors: Ding Linjie , Wang Fei , Hu Fanggui
Published: February 2022

We explore the concept that the Raman process can be used as an effective way for transfer of optical vortices. In a four-level atomic system, two strong fields are applied to form a Λ-type subsystem while two probe fields couple to the other cascade transitions. It is found that the optical vortex of a control field can be transferred to a generated probe beam based on four-wave mixing processes, wherein the one-photon detuning plays an important role in minimizing the losses. On the other hand, when the control fields have no vortices, the transfer is realized between two probe beams for intermediate values of atomic coherence induced by the Raman process, vanishing both for the minimal value 0 and for the maximal values ±0.5. We have also analyzed the spatial structures of the propagating probe beams with optical vortices at the entrance, displaying that the information of winding numbers is hidden behind the intensity distributions and corresponding phase patterns. This may find potential applications in quantum information storage.
A Study on Monte Carlo Simulation of the Radiation Environment above GeV at the DAMPE Orbit
Authors: Wang S. X. , Zang J. J. , Jiang W. , Lei S. J. , Luo C. N. , Xu Z. L. , Chang J.
Published: February 2022

The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) has been undergoing a stable on-orbit operation for more than 6 yr and acquired observations of over 11 billion events. A better understanding of the overall radiation environment of the DAMPE orbit is crucial for both simulation data production and flight data analysis. In this work, we study the radiation environment at low Earth orbit and develop a simulation software package using the framework of ATMNC3, in which state-of-the-art full 3D models of the Earth’s atmospheric and magnetic-field configurations are integrated. We consider in our Monte Carlo procedure event-by-event propagation of cosmic rays in the geomagnetic field and their interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere, focusing on the particles above GeV that are able to trigger the DAMPE data acquisition system. We compare the simulation results with the cosmic-ray electron and positron (CRE) flux measurements made by DAMPE. The overall agreement on both the spectral and angular distribution of the CRE flux demonstrates that our simulation is well established. Our software package could be of more general usage for simulation of the radiation environment of low Earth orbit at various altitudes.
Effects of a grazing permit market on pastoralist behavior and overgrazing in Kenya
Authors: Scheetz Austin A , Fenichel Eli P , Rubenstein Daniel I
Published: February 2022

The success of market-based mechanisms in reducing conflicts and internalizing externalities depends on their ability to clarify property rights amongst heterogenous resource users. We investigate the effectiveness of novel markets in achieving their goals using the case study of grazing markets in Laikipia County, Kenya. In this system, sheep- and goat (shoat)- and cattle-rearing pastoralists negotiate land access for cattle with neighboring cattle ranchers. Using data on pastoralists’ livestock and contracting preferences and a model of pastoral herd management, we show that contracting for cattle grazing access on private property alters relative input shadow prices for grazing resources in communal pastoral lands, ultimately resulting in relieved cattle grazing pressure. However, the permitting process is less attractive to pastoralists who prefer rearing shoats instead of cattle. These shoat-rearing pastoralists instead fill some of the vacated space with shoats instead of purchasing permits themselves. This leakage offsets some of the conservation benefits arising from the contracting program and results in a greater share of shoats in the communal herd mix. Approximately 0.59 cows’ worth of free space persists on the commons per permit sold, indicating reduced grazing pressure, but this represents a small proportion (3.8%) of the total livestock in the system. The narrow introduction of the cattle-focused permit market and lack of strong management institutions on the commons dampen the permitting program’s conservation benefits, necessitating further interventions. Alleviating these factors and dramatically scaling up the program has the potential to turn the permitting system into a successful conservation tool.
Toy models of multibranched polymers: opened vs circular structures
Authors: Haydukivska K , Blavatska V
Published: February 2022

We study the conformational properties of complex Gaussian polymers containing f

c
linear branches and f

r
closed loops, periodically tethered at n branching points to either a linear polymer backbone (generalized bottlebrush structures) or closed polymer ring (decorated ring structure). Applying the path integration method, based on Edwards continuous chain model, we obtain in particular the exact values for the size ratios comparing the gyration radii of considered complex structures and linear chains of the same total molecular weight, as functions of n, f

c
and f

r
. Compactification of the overall effective size of branched macromolecules with the increasing number of loops is quantitatively confirmed. Our results are supported by numerical estimates obtained by application of Wei’s method.
The use of a computer modeling system for foundry processes in blank production
Authors: Vdovin R A , Komisar Iu V , Karpov A V
Published: February 2022

The article focuses on the analysis of the results of computer simulation of the technological process of casting the part “Stub”. In the work, the elements of the gating-feeding system were calculated. Based on the calculated data, a digital model was built. An important stage of the work was the digital modeling of the technological process of casting the plug part in the ProCast CAE system. The simulation results were viewed and analyzed in the Visual-Viewer postprocessor module. An analysis of the simulation results made it possible to evaluate the efficiency of the gating system, determine the areas of turbulent flow, the nature of filling the zone with a high flow rate, possible places of mold erosion, places of formation of air pockets that can affect the occurrence of gas inclusions in the casting. The nature of the distribution of the temperature gradient in the casting, the time and uniformity of the solidification of the casting were also studied.
Analytical studies of plant proteins based on grain mixtures
Authors: Kechkin I , Ermolaev V , Yakovchenko M , Gurkovskaya E , Makhacheva E
Published: February 2022

Based on the result analysis obtained by grinding the grain mixture on coarse systems of the break process, a technological scheme of grinding was developed, it includes three break systems, a scratch system, a grinding system and five reduction systems, which ensured a flour yield of 70 - 75%. After developing the technology of the grinding process for wheat grain with the aim to obtain an optimal flour yield of 70-75%, and the preparation of binary mixtures of composite types of flour with specified technological properties, there was analyzed the samples’ quality in terms of molecular weight (MM) to confirm their nutritional value. The analysis was carried out to determine the protein molecular mass of wheat grain, flax seeds and wheat flour on the basis of the developed TSEC technique using polyethylene glycols (PEGs) as standards and marker proteins to identify the analysis results. Detailed analytical studies of plant proteins for obtaining qualitative and quantitative characteristics by the TSEC method are presented in the paper. Analytical characteristics of the method have been studied, which makes it possible to obtain reproducible results of a kind of qualitative analysis of biopolymers by quantitative characteristics of molecular weights and quantitative analysis of proteins by optical densitometry. The developed methods for determining the molecular mass of proteins are characterized from the metrological point of view.
The evolution and role of eukaryotic-like domains in environmental intracellular bacteria: the battle with a eukaryotic cell
Authors: Martyn Jessica E , Gomez-Valero Laura , Buchrieser Carmen
Published: February 2022

Intracellular pathogens that are able to thrive in different environments, such as Legionella spp. that preferentially live in protozoa in aquatic environments or environmental Chlamydiae that replicate either within protozoa or a range of animals, possess a plethora of cellular biology tools to influence their eukaryotic host. The host manipulation tools that evolved in the interaction with protozoa confer these bacteria the capacity to also infect phylogenetically distinct eukaryotic cells, such as macrophages, and thus they can also be human pathogens. To manipulate the host cell, bacteria use protein secretion systems and molecular effectors. Although these molecular effectors are encoded in bacteria, they are expressed and function in a eukaryotic context often mimicking or inhibiting eukaryotic proteins. Indeed, many of these effectors have eukaryotic-like domains. In this review, we propose that the main pathways that environmental intracellular bacteria need to subvert in order to establish the host eukaryotic cell as a replication niche are chromatin remodelling, ubiquitination signalling and modulation of protein–protein interactions via tandem repeat domains. We then provide mechanistic insight into how these proteins might have evolved. Finally, we highlight that in environmental intracellular bacteria the number of eukaryotic-like domains and proteins is considerably higher than in intracellular bacteria specialized to an isolated niche, such as obligate intracellular human pathogens. As mimics of eukaryotic proteins are critical components of host–pathogen interactions, this distribution of eukaryotic-like domains suggests that the environment has selected them.
Genetic risk factors and COVID-19 severity in Brazil: results from BRACOVID study
Authors: Pereira Alexandre C , Bes Taniela M , Velho Mariliza , Marques Emanuelle , Jannes Cintia E , Valino Karina R , Dinardo Carla L , Costa Silvia F , Duarte Alberto J S , Santos Alexandre R , Mitne-Neto Miguel , Medina-Pestana Jose , Krieger Jose E
Published: February 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the paradigms for disease surveillance and rapid deployment of scientific-based evidence for understanding disease biology, susceptibility and treatment. We have organized a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected individuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of the most affected areas of the pandemic in the country, itself one of the most affected in the world. Here, we present the results of the initial analysis in the first 5233 participants of the BRACOVID study. We have conducted a GWAS for COVID-19 hospitalization enrolling 3533 cases (hospitalized COVID-19 participants) and 1700 controls (non-hospitalized COVID-19 participants). Models were adjusted by age, sex and the 4 first principal components. A meta-analysis was also conducted merging BRACOVID hospitalization data with the Human Genetic Initiative (HGI) Consortia results. BRACOVID results validated most loci previously identified in the HGI meta-analysis. In addition, no significant heterogeneity according to ancestral group within the Brazilian population was observed for the two most important COVID-19 severity associated loci: 3p21.31 and Chr21 near IFNAR2. Using only data provided by BRACOVID, a new genome-wide significant locus was identified on Chr1 near the genes DSTYK and RBBP5. The associated haplotype has also been previously associated with a number of blood cell related traits and might play a role in modulating the immune response in COVID-19 cases.
The Production of North American and German Democracy Promotion Expertise: A Practice Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Holthaus Leonie , Christensen Michael
Published: February 2022

In international relations, there is regular reflection about the complex relations between academic and various kinds of practical knowledge. In this article, we add to these reflections using the example of democracy promotion expertise. We develop a practice–theoretical methodology based on the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu and extensions of it in the communities of practice literature. We also include a comparative dimension by studying epistemic practices in North America and Germany. Our analysis shows the importance of knowledge translating between academia and democracy promotion practice and the prestige and capital of roaming experts who cross epistemic boundaries that otherwise divide actors. To varying degrees, roaming experts contribute to practice-oriented translations of academic insights and the identification of problems stemming from ongoing practice that are important in democracy promotion. We show that processes of problem construction are regulated by conventions that homogenize epistemic practices and evidence, with only selective attention paid to emancipatory demands or epistemes from the Global South. While our research shows some epistemes and demands conflict with Western norms, Global South epistemes and demands are most often turned into arguments for further liberal democracy promotion.
Systematics and paleoecology of a new species of Varunidae H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Decapoda: Brachyura) from the lower Eocene of Spain
Authors: Ferratges Fernando A , Zamora Samuel , Aurell Marcos
Published: February 2022

The Roda Formation (early Eocene Ypresian, Huesca, Aragón, northern Spain) records successive levels including rich decapod faunas relevant for the understanding of Ypresian decapod assemblages. Asthenognathus fernandezin. sp. is described from one of these levels, representing the oldest report of a fossil Asthenognathinae, and the first report from the Iberian Peninsula. Fossil members of Asthenognathinae Stimpson, 1858, are difficult to distinguish from other families, especially when they lack preserved pereiopods, sternum, and abdomen. The new taxon shows important features that include reduced pereiopods, small and sub-cylindrical carapace, and absence of protruding ornamentation. This combination of characters indicates a possible early adaptation of Asthenognathus Stimpson, 1858 to life in cylindrical cavities. Asthenognathus fernandezin. sp. occurred on poorly consolidated siliciclastic substrates associated with a rich benthic fauna, including echinoderms, molluscs, and other crustaceans.
Climber exhibits first clinical manifestation of spinocerebellar ataxia on Karakoram expedition
Authors: Szymczak Robert K , Sawicka Magdalena , Pyrzowski Jan
Published: February 2022

Spinocerebellar ataxias are rare, genetically inherited diseases. Their typical symptoms include disturbances in gait, balance and uncoordinated movements, but these abnormalities, when appear at altitude, might also suggest high-altitude cerebral edema.

We described the first clinical manifestation of spinocerebellar ataxia of a climber from Poland on a Karakoram expedition.
Almost APAL
Authors: van Ditmarsch Hans , Liu Mo , Kuijer Louwe B , Sedlar Igor
Published: February 2022

Arbitrary public announcement logic (APAL) is a logic of change of knowledge with modalities representing quantification over announcements. We present two rather different versions of APAL wherein this quantification is restricted to formulas only containing a subset of all propositional variables: SAPAL and SCAPAL. Such restrictions are relevant in principle for the specification of multi-agent system dynamics. We also present another version of APAL, quantifying over all announcements implied by or implying a given formula: IPAL. We then determine the relative expressivity of all these logics and APAL. We also present complete axiomatizations of SAPAL and SCAPAL and show undecidability of satisfiability for all logics involved, by arguments nearly identical to those for APAL. We show that the IPAL quantifier, motivated by the satisfaction clause for substructural implication, yields a new substructural dynamic consequence relation.
Novel directions of precision oncology: circulating microbial DNA emerging in cancer-microbiome areas
Authors: You Liting , Zhou Juan , Xin Zhaodan , Hauck J Spencer , Na Feifei , Tang Jie , Zhou Xiaohan , Lei Zichen , Ying Binwu
Published: February 2022

Microbiome research has extended into the cancer area in the past decades. Microbes can affect oncogenesis, progression, and treatment response through various mechanisms, including direct regulation and indirect impacts. Microbiota-associated detection methods and agents have been developed to facilitate cancer diagnosis and therapy. Additionally, the cancer microbiome has recently been redefined. The identification of intra-tumoral microbes and cancer-related circulating microbial DNA (cmDNA) has promoted novel research in the cancer–microbiome area. In this review, we define the human system of commensal microbes and the cancer microbiome from a brand-new perspective and emphasize the potential value of cmDNA as a promising biomarker in cancer liquid biopsy. We outline all existing studies on the relationship between cmDNA and cancer and the outlook for potential preclinical and clinical applications of cmDNA in cancer precision medicine, as well as critical problems to be overcome in this burgeoning field.
Dirac gaugino from grand gauge-Higgs unification
Authors: Nakano Hiroaki , Sato Masamichi , Seto Osamu , Yamashita Toshifumi
Published: February 2022

We show that models of the Dirac gaugino can naturally be embedded into a kind of grand unified theory (GUT), the grand gauge-Higgs unification (gGHU) model, with the gauge group $SU(5)\times SU(5)/\mathbb {Z}_2$ on an $S^1/\mathbb {Z}_2$ orbifold. The supersymmetric gGHU is known to possess a light chiral adjoint supermultiplet after the GUT breaking, thanks to the exchange symmetry of two SU(5) groups. Identifying the “predicted” adjoint fermion with the Dirac partner of the gaugino, we argue that the supersoft term, responsible for the Dirac gaugino mass, can be obtained from the supersymmetric Chern–Simons (CS)-like term in the gGHU setup. Although the latter term does not respect the exchange symmetry, we propose a novel way to introduce its breaking effect within a consistent orbifold construction. We also give a concrete setup of fermion field contents (bulk and boundary-localized fermions) that induce the requisite CS-like term, and calculate its coefficient from the bulk profile of chiral fermion zero modes. Our gGHU setup may be regarded as an extra-dimensional realization of the Goldstone gaugino scenario that was proposed before as a solution to the problem of adjoint scalar masses.
Combination therapy of sorafenib and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with and without hepatic arteriovenous shunt
Authors: Chen Pin-Ko , Chiu Sung-Hua , Tsai Ming-Ting , Chang Kai-Hsiang , Chang Wei-Chou , Lin Hsuan-Hwai , Lo Cheng-Hsiang , Huang Guo-Shu , Chang Ping-Ying
Published: February 2022

Background:

To compare the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with sorafenib and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with or without hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS).

Methods:

This retrospective, single-center study enrolled 59 advanced HCC patients treated with combination therapy, of whom 33 (55.9%) patients had HAVS. Tumor response according to the mRECIST criteria was evaluated based on the CT images 1 month after TACE, and changes in the arterial enhancement ratio (AER) of tumors and portal vein tumor thrombosis were also documented. Time-to-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors were analyzed. Safety was evaluated with the incidence of TACE-related complications within 6 weeks after TACE.

Results:

The tumor response between the two groups showed no significant difference in the objective response rate (69.2% in the group without HAVS vs 60.6% in the group with HAVS, p = 0.492) or disease control rate (92.3% vs 87.9%, p = 0.685). The two groups showed comparable TTP (4.23 vs 2.33 months, p = 0.235) and OS (12.77 vs 12.97 months, p = 0.910). A drop in the AER of tumors of more than 20% on post-TACE CT independently predicted better OS. With regard to safety, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion:

For advanced HCC, combination therapy had equal efficacy and safety in patients with HAVS compared to those without HAVS, indicating that DEB-TACE is an optional and effective treatment in these patients.
Improved Survival for Patients With Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding While on Antithrombotic Therapy
Authors: Marmo Riccardo , Occhipinti Vincenzo , Zullo Angelo , Soncini Marco ,   on behalf of GISED—Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell’Emorragia Digestiva
Published: February 2022

Goals:

Aim of the study was to determine if patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) while on antithrombotic agents (ATs) are at higher risk for worse outcomes.

Background:

ATs are risk factors of AUGIB, but their impact on clinical outcomes is uncertain.

Study:

Patients with AUGIB (nonvariceal, NV-AUGIB or variceal, V-AUGIB) in 50 Italian hospitals were prospectively enrolled from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015. Clinical data, laboratory tests, comorbidities, prognostic scores, received therapies, and outcomes (death, rebleeding, surgery/radiology, transfusions, length of hospitalization) were analyzed.

Results:

A total of 3324 patients (2764 NV-AUGIB, 83.2% and 560 V-AUGIB, 16.8%) were enrolled, 1399 (42.1%) on ATs. Patients taking ATs were older (75.4 vs. 62.8 y, P<0.001), had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Rockall and Glasgow-Blatchford scores (P<0.001). At multivariate analysis considering comorbidities, ATs use resulted an independent protective factor against death [odds ratio (OR): 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45-0.87, P=0.006]. Rebleeding (5.5% vs. 5.8%, P=0.71) and need for salvage surgery/radiology (4.2% vs. 4.8%, P=0.41) were similar in the 2 groups. Considering specific ATs, low-dose aspirin was the most powerful factor lowering the death risk (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.33-0.81, P=0.004). While the generic use of AT therapy did not emerge as a statistically significant independent protective factor considering separately NV-AUGIB (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.56-1.13, P=0.21) and V-AUGIB (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.15-1.07, P=0.068), the protective effect of low-dose aspirin was confirmed for NV-AUGIB (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.94, P=0.025).

Conclusions:

ATs use is an independent protective factor against death in AUGIB. The protective effect is mainly derived from low-dose aspirin.
Human papillomavirus: optimizing opportunities for prevention
Authors: Browne Safa , Feemster Kristen A.
Published: February 2022

Purpose of review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide and is a precursor to anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Effective prevention is available through HPV vaccination and emerging evidence demonstrates the potential to significantly impact HPV-associated disease through reductions in the incidence of genital warts, precancerous cervical lesions, and cervical cancer. Indications have also recently expanded to include the prevention of oropharyngeal cancer, an outcome that has been increasing in incidence for men and women. Yet despite demonstrated effectiveness, the potential for broader impact and well-established routine recommendations for administration to adolescents, barriers to vaccine uptake persist. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on HPV prevention in the US, including trends in disease burden, HPV vaccine effectiveness, evolving vaccine recommendations and opportunities and barriers to their implementation.

Recent findings

Several studies have demonstrated that HPV vaccination has the potential to prevent most HPV-attributable cancers. Ongoing research addresses questions related to duration of protection, effectiveness in vulnerable populations, vaccine schedules and strategies to improve access and optimize uptake.

To ensure continued impact on the prevention of HPV-associated disease and subsequent cancer, it is crucial to address gaps in vaccine uptake. A strong recommendation for all persons for whom HPV vaccines are indicated, alongside initiatives to increase awareness of HPV vaccination and address specific concerns, can improve uptake among hesitant populations. Globally, efforts to bolster immunization programs are needed to broaden access to HPV vaccination.