bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of Perfect Vortex Beams by Dielectric Geometric Metasurface for Visible Light
Authors: Zhou Qianwei , Liu Mingze , Zhu Wenqi , Chen Lu , Ren Yongze , Lezec Henri J. , Lu Yanqing , Agrawal Amit , Xu Ting
Published: November 2021

A perfect vortex beam (PVB) is a propagating optical field carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) with a radial intensity profile that is independent of topological charge. PVBs can be generated through the Fourier transform of a Bessel–Gaussian beam, which typically requires a well‐aligned optical setup consisting of a spiral phase plate, an axion, and a lens. Here, based on a single‐layer dielectric metasurface, the broadband generation of PVBs across the entire visible spectrum is demonstrated. The metasurface is composed of TiO2 nanopillars acting as deep‐subwavelength half‐waveplates, and able to provide the desired geometric phase profile to an incident circularly polarized light for the generation of PVBs. Through rigorous optimization of the nanopillars’ structural parameters, the authors experimentally generate vortex beams carrying OAM with different topological charges that exhibit constant radial intensity profiles, verifying their “perfect” characteristics. Furthermore, it is also demonstrated that the ellipticity and diameter of a PVB can be simultaneously controlled by adjusting the structural parameters of the metasurface, which further increases the flexibility in their design. These results open a new route towards creating ultra‐compact, flat, multifunctional nanophotonic platforms for efficient generation of structured light beams.
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Detects Progression in Parkinson's Disease: A Placebo‐Controlled Trial of Rasagiline
Authors: Arpin David J. , Mitchell Trina , Archer Derek B. , Burciu Roxana G. , Chu Winston T. , Gao Hanzhi , Guttuso Thomas , Hess Christopher W. , Lai Song , Malaty Irene A. , McFarland Nikolaus R. , Pasternak Ofer , Price Catherine C. , Shukla Aparna Wagle , Wu Samuel S. , Okun Michael S. , Vaillancourt David E.
Published: November 2021

Background

Rasagiline has received attention as a potential disease‐modifying therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether rasagiline is disease modifying remains in question.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to determine whether rasagiline has disease‐modifying effects in PD over 1 year. Secondarily we evaluated two diffusion magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences to determine the best sequence to measure disease progression.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial assessed the effects of rasagiline administered at 1 mg/day over 12 months in early‐stage PD. The primary outcome was 1‐year change in free‐water accumulation in posterior substantia nigra (pSN) measured using two diffusion magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences, one with a repetition time (TR) of 2500 ms (short TR; n = 90) and one with a TR of 6400 ms (long TR; n = 75). Secondary clinical outcomes also were assessed.

Results

Absolute change in pSN free‐water accumulation was not significantly different between groups (short TR: P = 0.346; long TR: P = 0.228). No significant differences were found in any secondary clinical outcomes between groups. Long TR, but not short TR, data show pSN free‐water increased significantly over 1 year (P = 0.025). Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale testing of motor function, Part III increased significantly over 1 year (P = 0.009), and baseline free‐water in the pSN correlated with the 1‐year change in Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale testing of motor function, Part III (P = 0.004) and 1‐year change in bradykinesia score (P = 0.044).

Conclusions

We found no evidence that 1 mg/day rasagiline has a disease‐modifying effect in PD over 1 year. We found pSN free‐water increased over 1 year, and baseline free‐water relates to clinical motor progression, demonstrating the importance of diffusion imaging parameters for detecting and predicting PD progression. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Review on the broadband time‐delay‐signature‐suppressed chaotic laser
Authors: Wei Xiaojing , Qiao Lijun , Chai Mengmeng , Zhang Mingjiang
Published: November 2021

Chaotic laser generated by semiconductor lasers has been attached great importance in areas of secure communication, random number generation, and optical sensing. This article mainly reviews the research progress in the performance improvement of chaotic laser, including bandwidth enhancement and time‐delay signature suppression. First, the methods of chaotic laser generation and the existing problems are briefly introduced. Then, innovative methods for the optimization of chaotic characteristics are analyzed and discussed. The integrated chaotic semiconductor lasers are also discussed. At last, avenues for the development trends and future applications of chaotic semiconductor lasers are prospected.
Timing evaluation of a PET detector block based on semi‐monolithic LYSO crystals
Authors: Cucarella Neus , Barrio John , Lamprou Efthymios , Valladares Celia , Benlloch Jose M. , Gonzalez Antonio J.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Detectors for positron emission tomography (PET) typically use two types of scintillation crystals, pixelated or monolithic. A variant of these types of scintillators are the so‐called semi‐monolithic crystals. They consist of a monolithic crystal segmented in one direction in pieces called slabs. These scintillators have the potential to successfully combine the benefits of pixelated and monolithic configurations, providing good timing and spatial resolutions as well as the capacity to decode the depth of interaction (DOI) information. In this work, the timing performance of a detector based on semi‐monolithic crystals was studied in depth. The energy response was also evaluated.

Methods

The semi‐monolithic detector consists of 1 × 24 LYSO slabs of 25.4 × 12 × 0.95 mm3 each. The bottom surface of the slabs is coupled to an array of 8 × 8 silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) of 3 × 3 mm2 active area, 50 μm cell size and 3.2 mm pitch. The 64 output signals were independently readout by the TOFPET2 ASIC. In order to achieve the best coincidence time resolution (CTR), four different time walk corrections were tested. Additional work investigated the best method of combining the timestamps belonging to the same event.

Results

The resolvability of the slabs in the measured flood maps improves with the thickness of a light guide placed in between the scintillators and photosensors. The energy resolution does not change significantly with values as good as 13.7%. Regarding the CTR, values of 335.8, 363, 369.8, and 402.5 ps have been obtained for the whole detector for no light guide, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mm thickness light guide cases, respectively. These values further improve to 276.1, 302.6, 305.6 and 336.2 ps, respectively, when energy‐weighted averaging of timestamps is applied.

Conclusions

We have shown both an excellent timing resolution and good energy resolution for a PET detector based on semi‐monolithic crystals. The use of light guides of different thicknesses does not significantly affect the energy resolution of the whole detector, but the timing capabilities slightly worsen with the increasing thickness of the light guide.
Energieträger: Wie teuer Fortbewegung ist
Authors: Machhammer Otto
Published: November 2021

Deutscher Netzstrom oder importierte Kraftstoffe: Eine betriebswirtschaftliche Kostenbetrachtung soll helfen, den besten Mix aus batterie‐ und wasserstoffbetriebenen Fahrzeugen und solchen auf Basis synthetischer Kraftstoffe zu finden. Als Energiequellen dienen Sonne und Wind.
Chemiewirtschaft: Überblick Kunststoffrecycling
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: November 2021

Ein Positionspapier zeigt werk‐ und rohstoffliche Aufbereitungstechniken für Kunststoffe.
Disorder explains dual‐band reflection spectrum in spherical colloidal photonic supraparticle assemblies
Authors: Kuhn Eduard , Röhlig David , Sowade Enrico , Rittrich Dirk , Willert Andreas , Schulz Stefan E. , Baumann Reinhard R. , Thränhardt Angela , Blaudeck Thomas
Published: November 2021

Spherical colloidal photonic supraparticle systems or assemblies (SCAs) are investigated as a model system for confined optical and photonic components. Simulations of the reflection spectrum to calculate their photonic and optical properties for different parameter constellations are compared with experimental studies by microreflectance spectroscopy (RS) on SCAs fabricated by inkjet in‐flight deposition, proving the existence of a dual‐band reflection spectrum originating from the supraparticle system. Finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) calculations are employed to verify these findings as a function of structural parameters. Both, theory and experiment, show a double reflection peak for the SCAs and agree well in the variation of position and shape, scaling clearly with the packing density of the SCAs. Reducing this parameter from 0.6 to 0.3, the higher‐wavelength reflection maximum decreases in intensity and increases in width but keeps its spectral position. The lower‐wavelength reflection maximum decreases in intensity, increases in width and shows a red shift. The results clearly indicate that aspects of disorder decisively contribute to the particular spectral photonic properties of the supraparticle system which are usually related to order in photonic crystals. This finding can stipulate novel, tailor‐made nanostructured optical components such as low‐dimensional micro resonators and waveguides.
Developing Standards to Support the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells
Authors: Cao Jiani , Hao Jie , Wang Lei , Tan Yuanqing , Tian Yuchang , Li Shiyu , Ma Aijin , Fu Boqiang , Dai Jianwu , Zhai Peijun , Xiang Peng , Zhang Yong , Cheng Tao , Peng Yaojin , Zhou Qi , Zhao Tongbiao
Published: November 2021

Stem cells, which could be developed as starting or raw materials for cell therapy, hold tremendous promise for regenerative medicine. However, despite multiple fundamental and clinical studies, clinical translation of stem cells remains in the early stages. In contrast to traditional chemical drugs, cellular products are complex, and efficacy can be altered by culture conditions, suboptimal cell culture techniques, and prolonged passage such that translation of stem cells from bench to bedside involves not only scientific exploration but also normative issues. Establishing an integrated system of standards to support stem cell applications has great significance in efficient clinical translation. In recent years, regulators and the scientific community have recognized gaps in standardization and have begun to develop standards to support stem cell research and clinical translation. Here, we discuss the development of these standards, which support the translation of stem cell products into clinical therapy, and explore ongoing work to define current stem cell guidelines and standards. We also introduce general aspects of stem cell therapy and current international consensus on human pluripotent stem cells, discuss standardization of clinical-grade stem cells, and propose a framework for establishing stem cell standards. Finally, we review ongoing development of international and Chinese standards supporting stem cell therapy.
Development and Investigational New Drug Application of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Products in China
Authors: Zhao Qinjun , Han Zhibo , Wang Jialun , Han Zhongchao
Published: November 2021

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have broad application prospects for regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal, high plasticity, ability for differentiation, and immune response and modulation. Interest in turning MSCs into clinical applications has never been higher than at present. Many biotech companies have invested great effort from development of clinical grade MSC product to investigational new drug (IND) enabling studies. Therefore, the growing demand for publication of MSC regulation in China necessitates various discussions in accessible professional journals. The National Medical Products Administration has implemented regulations on the clinical application of MSCs therapy. The regulations for MSCs products as drug have been updated in recent years in China. This review will look over the whole procedure in allogeneic MSC development, including regulations, guidance, processes, quality management, pre-IND meeting, and IND application for obtaining an approval to start clinical trials in China. The review focused on process and regulatory challenges in the development of MSCs products, with the goal of providing strategies to meet regulatory demands. This article describes a path for scientists, biotech companies, and clinical trial investigators toward the successful development of MSC-based therapeutic product.
A few FERPA training perspectives: Unexpected questions, Part 3
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: November 2021

Several years ago, I was conducting a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act training session for student services personnel at a large state college.
Regulation and different functions of the animal microRNA‐induced silencing complex
Authors: Frédérick Pierre‐Marc , Simard Martin J.
Published: November 2021

Among the different types of small RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in controlling gene expression at the mRNA level. To be active, they must associate with an Argonaute protein to form the miRNA induced silencing complex (miRISC) and binds to specific mRNA through complementarity sequences. The miRISC binding to an mRNA can lead to multiple outcomes, the most frequent being inhibition of the translation and/or deadenylation followed by decapping and mRNA decay. In the last years, several studies described different mechanisms modulating miRISC functions in animals. For instance, the regulation of the Argonaute protein through post‐translational modifications can change the miRISC gene regulatory activity as well as modulate its binding to proteins, mRNA targets and miRISC stability. Furthermore, the presence of RNA binding proteins and multiple miRISCs at the targeted mRNA 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) can also affect its function through cooperation or competition mechanisms, underlying the importance of the 3′UTR environment in miRNA‐mediated repression. Another way to regulate the miRISC function is by modulation of its interactors, forming different types of miRNA silencing complexes that affect gene regulation differently. It is also reported that the subcellular localization of several components of the miRNA pathway can modulate miRISC function, suggesting an important role for vesicular trafficking in the regulation of this essential silencing complex.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA‐Protein Complexes

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs
The impact of nutritional counseling on thyroid disorders in head and neck cancer patients after (chemo)radiotherapy: results from a prospective interventional trial
Authors: Löser Anastassia , Ramke Kerstin , Grohmann Maximilian , Krause Linda , Roser Pia , Greinert Franziska , Finger Anna , Sommer Margaret , Culmann Eva , Lorenz Tessa , Becker Saskia , Henze Marvin , Schodrok Daniel , von Grundherr Julia , Tribius Silke , Krüll Andreas , Petersen Cordula
Published: November 2021

Objective

To analyze the impact of nutritional counseling on the development of hypothyroidism after (chemo)radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients to propose a new normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model.

Materials and methods

At baseline, at the end of (chemo)radiotherapy, and during follow-up, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with free thyroxin (fT3 and fT4), nutritional status, and nutrient intake were prospectively analyzed in 46 out of 220 screened patients. Patients received (chemo)radiotherapy within an intervention (individual nutritional counseling every 2 weeks during therapy) and a control group (no nutritional counseling).

Results

Overall median follow-up was 16.5 [IQR: 12; 22] months. Fourteen patients (30.4%) presented with hypothyroidism after 13.5 [8.8; 17] months. During (chemo)radiotherapy, nutritional status worsened in the entire cohort: body mass index (p < 0.001) and fat-free mass index (p < 0.001) decreased, calorie deficit (p = 0.02) increased, and the baseline protein intake dropped (p = 0.028). The baseline selenium intake (p = 0.002) increased until the end of therapy. Application of the NTCP models by Rønjom, Cella, and Boomsma et al. resulted in good performance of all three models, with an AUC ranging from 0.76 to 0.78. Our newly developed NTCP model was based on baseline TSH and baseline ferritin. Model performance was good, receiving an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.61–0.87), with a sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 96.9% calculated for a Youden index of 0.73 (p = 0.004; area = 0.5).

Conclusion

Baseline TSH and ferritin act as independent predictors for radiotherapy-associated hypothyroidism. The exclusion of such laboratory chemistry parameters in future NTCP models may result in poor model performance.
Baseline-dependent clock offsets in VLBI data analysis
Authors: Krásná Hana , Jaron Frédéric , Gruber Jakob , Böhm Johannes , Nothnagel Axel
Published: November 2021

The primary goal of the geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) technique is to provide highly accurate terrestrial and celestial reference frames as well as Earth orientation parameters. In compliance with the concept of VLBI, additional parameters reflecting relative offsets and variations of the atomic clocks of the radio telescopes have to be estimated. In addition, reality shows that in many cases significant offsets appear in the observed group delays for individual baselines which have to be compensated for by estimating so-called baseline-dependent clock offsets (BCOs). For the first time, we systematically investigate the impact of BCOs to stress their importance for all kinds of VLBI data analyses. For our investigations, we concentrate on analyzing data from both legacy networks of the CONT17 campaign. Various aspects of BCOs including their impact on the estimates of geodetically important parameters, such as station coordinates and Earth orientation parameters, are investigated. In addition, some of the theory behind the BCO determination, e.g., the impact of changing the reference clock in the observing network on the BCO estimate is introduced together with the relationship between BCOs and triangle delay closures. In conclusion, missing channels, and here in particular at S band, affecting the ionospheric delay calibration, are identified to be the dominant cause for the occurrence of significant BCOs in VLBI data analysis.
Who’s miserable now? Identifying clusters of people with the lowest subjective wellbeing in the UK
Authors: Dolan Paul , Laffan Kate , Velias Alina
Published: November 2021

Policymakers are generally most concerned about improving the lives of the worst-off members of society. Identifying these people can be challenging. We take various measures of subjective wellbeing (SWB) as indicators of the how well people are doing in life and employ Latent Class Analysis to identify those with greatest propensity to be among the worst-off in a nationally representative sample of over 215,000 people in the United Kingdom. Our results have important implications for how best to analyse data on SWB and who to target when looking to improve the lives of those with the lowest SWB (The authors owe a massive debt of gratitude to the Office for National Statistics for their support throughout this research. We are particularly grateful to Dawn Snape and Eleanor Rees for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this paper, to Salah Mehad for the thorough review of methodology, and to Vahe Nafilyan for advice on clustering analysis. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for the very helpful comments. Thank you all very much.).
Consecutive monitoring method for pecan orchards and discovery of a mysterious circle in a pecan orchard with UAV
Authors: Yamagata H. , Noda K. , Randall J. J. , Kamiya H. , Oki K.
Published: November 2021

In this study, we established consecutive monitoring methods using UAV in pecan orchards of 64 ha each, in San Simon, Arizona, USA. Activity monitoring, tree height map creation and ground surface temperature analysis of trees by UAV with near infrared (NIR)/TIR camera were conducted for pecan orchards in San Simon, Arizona, USA. Using established continuous monitoring methods, the UAV images of a 3-year-old pecan orchard showed circular traces of alfalfa cultivation prior to installation of pivot irrigation that was previously not observed. Tree growth measurements was compared to the trees planted inside and outside of the circle. Growth and tree health activity was found to be better when the trees were outside of the circle.
Algorithms for flows over time with scheduling costs
Authors: Frascaria Dario , Olver Neil
Published: November 2021

Flows over time have received substantial attention from both an optimization and (more recently) a game-theoretic perspective. In this model, each arc has an associated delay for traversing the arc, and a bound on the rate of flow entering the arc; flows are time-varying. We consider a setting which is very standard within the transportation economic literature, but has received little attention from an algorithmic perspective. The flow consists of users who are able to choose their route but also their departure time, and who desire to arrive at their destination at a particular time, incurring a scheduling cost if they arrive earlier or later. The total cost of a user is then a combination of the time they spend commuting, and the scheduling cost they incur. We present a combinatorial algorithm for the natural optimization problem, that of minimizing the average total cost of all users (i.e., maximizing the social welfare). Based on this, we also show how to set tolls so that this optimal flow is induced as an equilibrium of the underlying game.
Biomedical Ontologies to Guide AI Development in Radiology
Authors: Filice Ross W. , Kahn Charles E.
Published: November 2021

The advent of deep learning has engendered renewed and rapidly growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology to analyze images, manipulate textual reports, and plan interventions. Applications of deep learning and other AI approaches must be guided by sound medical knowledge to assure that they are developed successfully and that they address important problems in biomedical research or patient care. To date, AI has been applied to a limited number of real-world radiology applications. As AI systems become more pervasive and are applied more broadly, they will benefit from medical knowledge on a larger scale, such as that available through computer-based approaches. A key approach to represent computer-based knowledge in a particular domain is an ontology. As defined in informatics, an ontology defines a domain’s terms through their relationships with other terms in the ontology. Those relationships, then, define the terms’ semantics, or “meaning.” Biomedical ontologies commonly define the relationships between terms and more general terms, and can express causal, part-whole, and anatomic relationships. Ontologies express knowledge in a form that is both human-readable and machine-computable. Some ontologies, such as RSNA’s RadLex radiology lexicon, have been applied to applications in clinical practice and research, and may be familiar to many radiologists. This article describes how ontologies can support research and guide emerging applications of AI in radiology, including natural language processing, image–based machine learning, radiomics, and planning.
Neuerungen in der Rechtsschutzorganisation im Immissionsschutzrecht
Authors: Saurer Johannes
Published: November 2021

Das Umwelt-Rechtsbehelfsgesetz 2017 und das Investitionsbeschleunigungsgesetz 2020 haben die gerichtlichen Zuständigkeiten im Immissionsschutzrecht signifikant verändert. Die erstinstanzliche Zuständigkeit der Oberverwaltungsgerichte wurde erheblich erweitert. Für Rechtshelfe Dritter gegen Windenergieanlagen an Land wurde das Entfallen der aufschiebenden Wirkung mit Gesamthöhe von über 50 Metern angeordnet. Der folgende Beitrag analysiert die Neuerungen in der Rechtsschutzorganisation.
Climate change in mechanical systems: the snapshot view of parallel dynamical evolutions
Authors: Jánosi Dániel , Károlyi György , Tél Tamás
Published: November 2021

We argue that typical mechanical systems subjected to a monotonous parameter drift whose timescale is comparable to that of the internal dynamics can be considered to undergo their own climate change. Because of their chaotic dynamics, there are many permitted states at any instant, and their time dependence can be followed—in analogy with the real climate—by monitoring parallel dynamical evolutions originating from different initial conditions. To this end an ensemble view is needed, enabling one to compute ensemble averages characterizing the instantaneous state of the system. We illustrate this on the examples of (i) driven dissipative and (ii) Hamiltonian systems and of (iii) non-driven dissipative ones. We show that in order to find the most transparent view, attention should be paid to the choice of the initial ensemble. While the choice of this ensemble is arbitrary in the case of driven dissipative systems (i), in the Hamiltonian case (ii) either KAM tori or chaotic seas should be taken, and in the third class (iii) the best choice is the KAM tori of the dissipation-free limit. In all cases, the time evolution of the chosen ensemble on snapshots illustrates nicely the geometrical changes occurring in the phase space, including the strengthening, weakening or disappearance of chaos. Furthermore, we show that a Smale horseshoe (a chaotic saddle) that is changing in time is present in all cases. Its disappearance is a geometrical sign of the vanishing of chaos. The so-called ensemble-averaged pairwise distance is found to provide an easily accessible quantitative measure for the strength of chaos in the ensemble. Its slope can be considered as an instantaneous Lyapunov exponent whose zero value signals the vanishing of chaos. Paradigmatic low-dimensional bistable systems are used as illustrative examples whose driving in (i, ii) is chosen to decay in time in order to maintain an analogy with case (iii) where the total energy decreases all the time.
Feynman diagrams
Authors: Harlander Robert
Published: November 2021

The way from the path integral to Feynman diagrams is sketched. The emphasis is put on the decrease of complexity in this process, from infinite-dimensional integrals down to the apparent simplicity of child’s play. On the other hand, also the subsequent increase in complexity when using Feynman diagrams to make realistic physical predictions is described, thus illustrating the dialectic between the simplicity and clarity of Feynman diagrams, and the complexity in their practical applications.
Long-arm functional individuation of computation
Authors: Fresco Nir
Published: November 2021

A single physical process may often be described equally well as computing several different mathematical functions—none of which is explanatorily privileged. How, then, should the computational identity of a physical system be determined? Some computational mechanists hold that computation is individuated only by either narrow physical or functional properties. Even if some individuative role is attributed to environmental factors, it is rather limited. The computational semanticist holds that computation is individuated, at least in part, by semantic properties. She claims that the mechanistic account lacks the resources to individuate the computations performed by some systems, thereby leaving interesting cases of computational indeterminacy unaddressed. This article examines some of these views, and claims that more cases of computational indeterminacy can be addressed, if the system-environment interaction plays a greater role in individuating computations. A new, long-arm functional strategy for individuating computation is advanced.
Disagreement and epistemic improvement
Authors: Broncano-Berrocal Fernando , Simion Mona
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a methodological turn for the epistemology of disagreement, away from focusing on highly idealized cases of peer disagreement and towards an increased focus on disagreementsimpliciter. We propose and develop a normative framework for evaluating all cases of disagreement as to whether something is the case independently of their composition—i.e., independently of whether they are between peers or not. The upshot will be a norm of disagreement on which what one should do when faced with a disagreeing party is to improve the epistemic properties of one’s doxastic attitude or, alternatively, hold steadfast.
Older women being active in fitness gyms: benefits or constraints? Results from a qualitative interview study (southern Germany and East Coast of USA)
Authors: Sobiech Gabriele , Leipert Sebastian
Published: November 2021

In the course of demographic change, the notion of age(ing) seen as something unavoidable has changed into something more adaptable. Through a healthy lifestyle, which aims at the self-responsible management of physical risks through fitness and discipline, individuals can expand their independence. However, the chances of doing so depend largely on one’s social position. In addition, the shift in health ideology towards the individual and the trend towards active ageing may lead to social pressure for some individuals. This qualitative interview study attempts to shed more light on this field of tension: What are the benefits and constraints of working on the body in the gym? Furthermore, what similarities and differences can be identified in identity constructions in the two samples with regard to the different underlying healthcare systems? The evaluation of the interviews was based on qualitative content analysis and was carried out with technical support (MAXQDA). It appears that for the respondents creating a fit body results primarily in self-empowerment gains. At the same time, submissions to Western body and fitness norms are also evident. Inequalities in health opportunities exist in both countries: While the respondents in the German sample (26 interviews) rely on public health services, the privileged American women (14 interviews) are covered by private insurance. They indicate that claiming government benefits appears as a stigmatisation of one’s own way of life. Consequently, a lack of resources in the form of cultural and economic capital prevents successful age(ing).
Sex work, containment and the new discourse of public health in French colonial Levant
Authors: Graham Pascale N.
Published: November 2021

This article addresses how French academics, doctors and state bureaucrats formulated sex work as a pathology, an area of inquiry that had to be studied in the interest of public safety. French colonisation in the Levant extended the reach of this ‘expertise’ from the metropole to Lebanon under the guise of public health. Knowledge produced by academics was used to buttress colonial state policy, which demanded that sex workers be contained to protect society against medical contagion. No longer drawing conclusions based on speculation, the medical establishment asserted its authority by harnessing modern advances in science and uniting them with extensive observation. ‘Empirical facts’ replaced ‘opinions’, as doctors forged new approaches to studying and containing venereal disease. They accomplished this through the use of statistics and new methods of diagnosing and treating maladies. Their novel approach was used to treat sex workers and to support commercial sex work policy both at home and abroad. Sex workers became the objects of scientific study and were consequently problematised by the state in medicalised terms.
Dossier – Fighting Back: Contemporary Theatre in Brazil: Introduction
Authors: LEAL DODI T. B. , ROMANO LÚCIA R. V.
Published: November 2021

This text introduces our dossier on contemporary theatre in Brazil, highlighting the ways it fights back against social and political injustice.
Geomorphology of the Congaree River Floodplain: Implications for the Inundation Continuum
Authors: Xu Haiqing , Torres Raymond , van der Steeg Shailesh , Viparelli Enrica
Published: November 2021

Floodplain inundation has been viewed as a type of binary process set by the relative elevation between river stage and levee crest. However, recent reports in the literature show that this perception may have limited applicability. In particular, through‐bank channels, conduits that cross the main river levees or banks, facilitate conditions for an “inundation continuum,” or inundation for a range of sub‐bankfull flows. Moreover, through‐bank channels and their networks provide a direct hydraulic connection between the main river and the floodplain interior. We analyzed through‐bank channel structure and floodplain topography and compared them to river surface elevation to provide greater insight on floodplain inundation processes. Results show that well‐developed levees with through‐bank channels facilitate frequent through‐bank inundation. Where levees are poorly developed, floodplain inundation occurs by overbank flow. Therefore, for a given discharge through‐bank and overbank inundation may occur simultaneously. For the Congaree River floodplain, we infer that this dichotomy of inundation processes leads to temporally and spatially complex inundation flow paths for a given river stage. Further, our analyses reveal that the inundation continuum concept should be considered in the context of having vertical, longitudinal, lateral, and temporal components.
Mechanistic Modeling of Marsh Seedling Establishment Provides a Positive Outlook for Coastal Wetland Restoration Under Global Climate Change
Authors: Hu Zhan , Borsje Bas W. , van Belzen Jim , Willemsen Pim W. J. M. , Wang Heng , Peng Yisheng , Yuan Lin , De Dominicis Michela , Wolf Judith , Temmerman Stijn , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: November 2021

While many studies focus on the persistence of coastal wetlands under climate change, similar predictions are lacking for new wetland establishment, despite being critical to restoration. Recent experiments revealed that marsh seedling establishment is driven by a balance between physical disturbance of bed‐level dynamics and seedling root stability. Using machine learning, we quantitatively translate such finding in a new biogeomorphic model to assess marsh establishment extent. This model was validated against multiyear observations of natural seedling‐expansion events at typical sites in the Netherlands and China. Subsequently, synthetic modeling experiments underscored that seedling expansion was primarily determined by controllable local conditions (e.g., sediment supply, local wave height, and tidal flat bathymetry) rather than uncontrollable climate change factors (e.g., change in sea‐level and global wave regime). Thus, science‐based local management measures can facilitate coastal wetland restoration, despite global climate change, shedding hope for managing a variety of coastal ecosystems under similar stresses.
Impacts of Biomass Burning in Peninsular Southeast Asia on PM2.5 Concentration and Ozone Formation in Southern China During Springtime—A Case Study
Authors: Xing Li , Bei Naifang , Guo Jianping , Wang Qiyuan , Liu Suixin , Han Yongming , Pongpiachan Siwatt , Li Guohui
Published: November 2021

Biomass burning (BB) affects fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and ozone (O3) formation by emitting gaseous precursors and primary aerosols. The Impacts of BB in peninsular Southeast Asia (BB‐PSEA) on PM2.5 concentration and O3 formation in southern China are evaluated using a source‐oriented WRF‐Chem model to simulate an air pollution episode from March 21 to March 25, 2015. The source‐oriented model separates the emissions from BB‐PSEA and other sources and can evaluate the effects of aerosol‐radiation interactions (ARIs) and aerosol‐photolysis interactions (APIs) from BB‐PSEA. Comparisons with observations reveal that the model performs well in simulating the air pollution episode. Sensitivity experiments show that BB‐PSEA increases PM2.5 concentrations on the regional average by 39.3 μg m−3 (68.0%) in Yunnan Province (YNP) and 8.4 μg m−3 (24.1%) in other downwind areas (ODAs) in southern China, including the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang. PM2.5 enhancement is mainly attributed to primary aerosols in YNP and to secondary aerosols in ODA. BB‐PSEA increases O3 concentrations by 18.1 μg m−3 (19.4%) in YNP and decreases O3 concentrations by 3.7 μg m−3 (5.3%) in ODA. The O3 increase in YNP is attributed to the gaseous emissions of BB‐PSEA, and the O3 decrease in ODA is caused by the effects of ARI and API from BB‐PSEA. NH3 emissions from BB‐PSEA play a key role in enhancing secondary inorganic aerosols in southern China and determining increases in PM2.5 concentrations in ODA.
Impact of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Geoengineering on the Summer Climate Over East Asia
Authors: Liu Zhaochen , Lang Xianmei , Jiang Dabang
Published: November 2021

As a potential approach to counteract global warming, geoengineering has attracted much attention in recent years. We investigate the impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) geoengineering on summer (June‐August, JJA) temperature and precipitation over East Asia as well as the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) by using model outputs archived in the G4 stratospheric aerosol injection experiments of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP). In the G4 experiment, injected sulfate aerosols cause decreases in top‐of‐atmosphere radiative forcing, surface air temperature, and precipitation, and changes in the EASM and drought/flood pattern in summer over East Asia. The SAI‐induced temperature changes show consistent cooling with strong magnitudes over the East Asian continent, while the precipitation and EASM changes vary among regions and models. SAI leads to anomalous anticyclones in the lower troposphere, mainly due to the strong cooling in the middle‐to‐upper troposphere. The thermodynamic and dynamic mechanisms of SAI‐induced summer precipitation change over East Asia are analyzed through the moisture budget equation. The results show that the spatial pattern of precipitation change is dominated by a dynamic divergent component under SAI forcing, indicating the leading role of atmospheric circulation change. This change is closely associated with anomalous cyclones and anticyclones in the lower troposphere.
On the Role of Serial Correlation and Field Significance in Detecting Changes in Extreme Precipitation Frequency
Authors: Farris Stefano , Deidda Roberto , Viola Francesco , Mascaro Giuseppe
Published: November 2021

Statistical trend analyses of observed precipitation (P) time series are key to validate theoretical arguments and climate projections suggesting that extreme P will increase in a warmer climate. Recent work warned about possible misinterpretation of trend tests if the presence of serial correlation and field significance are not considered. Here, we investigate these two aspects focusing on extreme P frequencies derived from 100‐year daily records of 1,087 worldwide gauges of the Global Historical Climatology Network. For this aim, we perform Monte Carlo experiments based on count time series generated with the Poisson integer autoregressive model and characterized by different sample size, level of autocorrelation, and trend magnitude. The main results are as follows. (a) Empirical autocorrelations are consistent with those of uncorrelated and stationary or nonstationary count time series, while empirical trends cannot be explained as the exclusive effect of autocorrelation; incorporating the impact of serial correlation in trend tests on extreme P frequency has then limited impacts on tests' performance. (b) Accounting for field significance improves interpretation of test results by limiting type‐I errors, but it also decreases test power; results of local tests could complement field significance outcomes and help identify weak trend signals where several trends of coherent sign are detected. (c) Based on these findings, evident patterns of statistically significant increasing (decreasing) trends emerge in central and eastern North America, northern Eurasia, and central Australia (southwestern America, southern Europe, and southern Australia). The methodological insights of this work support trend analyses of any hydroclimatic variable.
Data-driven comparison of multiple high-dimensional single-cell expression profiles
Authors: Okada Daigo , Cheng Jian Hao , Zheng Cheng , Yamada Ryo
Published: November 2021

Comparing multiple single-cell expression datasets such as cytometry and scRNA-seq data between case and control donors provides information to elucidate the mechanisms of disease. We propose a completely data-driven computational biological method for this task. This overcomes the challenges of conventional cellular subset-based comparisons and facilitates further analyses such as machine learning and gene set analysis of single-cell expression datasets.
Comprehensive analyses of RNA-seq and genome-wide data point to enrichment of neuronal cell type subsets in neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Olislagers M. , Rademaker K. , Adan R. A. H. , Lin B. D. , Luykx J. J.
Published: November 2021

Neurological and psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, share a range of symptoms, which could be the result of shared genetic background. Many genetic loci have been identified for these disorders using genome-wide association studies, but conclusive evidence about cell types wherein these loci are active is lacking. We aimed to uncover implicated brain cell types in neuropsychiatric traits and to assess consistency in results across RNA datasets and methods. We therefore comprehensively employed cell type enrichment methods by integrating single-cell transcriptomic data from mouse brain regions with an unprecedented dataset of 42 human genome-wide association study results of neuropsychiatric, substance use and behavioral/quantitative brain-related traits (n = 12,544,007 individuals). Single-cell transcriptomic datasets from the Karolinska Institute and 10x Genomics were used. Cell type enrichment was determined using Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression, Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation, and Data-driven Expression Prioritized Integration for Complex Traits. We found the largest degree of consistency across methods for implication of pyramidal cells in schizophrenia and cognitive performance. For other phenotypes, such as bipolar disorder, two methods implicated the same cell types, i.e., medium spiny neurons and pyramidal cells. For autism spectrum disorders and anorexia nervosa, no consistency in implicated cell types was observed across methods. We found no evidence for astrocytes being consistently implicated in neuropsychiatric traits. In conclusion, we provide comprehensive evidence for a subset of neuronal cell types being consistently implicated in several, but not all psychiatric disorders, while non-neuronal cell types seem less implicated.
Mefatinib as first-line treatment of patients with advanced EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase Ib/II efficacy and biomarker study
Authors: Wang Pingli , Li Yuping , Lv Dongqing , Yang Lingge , Ding Liren , Zhou Jianya , Hong Wei , Chen Youfei , Zhang Dongqing , He Susu , Zhou Jianying , Wang Kai
Published: November 2021

EGFR inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Mefatinib is a novel, bioavailable, second-generation, irreversible pan-EGFR inhibitor. This phase Ib/II open-label, single-arm, multi-center study investigated the efficacy, safety, biomarker, and resistance mechanisms of mefatinib in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC. This study included 106 patients with EGFR-mutant stage IIIB-IV NSCLC who received first-line mefatinib at a daily dose of either 60 mg (n = 51) or 80 mg (n = 55). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. The cohort achieved an ORR of 84.9% and DCR of 97.2%. The median PFS was 15.4 months and the median OS was 31.6 months. Brain metastasis was detected in 29% of patients (n = 31) at diagnosis and demonstrated an ORR of 87.1%, PFS of 12.8 months, and OS of 25.2 months. Adverse events primarily involved skin and gastrointestinal toxicities, which were well-tolerated and manageable. Analyses of mutation profiles were performed using targeted sequencing of plasma samples at baseline, first follow-up 6 weeks from starting mefatinib therapy (F1), and at progression. Patients with concurrent TP53 mutations had comparable PFS as wild-type TP53 (14.0 vs 15.4 months; p = 0.315). Furthermore, circulating tumor DNA clearance was associated with longer PFS (p = 0.040) and OS (p = 0.002). EGFR T790M was the predominant molecular mechanism of mefatinib resistance (42.1%, 16/38). First-line mefatinib provides durable PFS and an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC.
An antibody against Siglec-15 promotes bone formation and fracture healing by increasing TRAP+ mononuclear cells and PDGF-BB secretion
Authors: Zhen Gehua , Dan Yang , Wang Ruomei , Dou Ce , Guo Qiaoyue , Zarr Melissa , Liu Linda N. , Chen Lieping , Deng Ruoxian , Li Yusheng , Shao Zengwu , Cao Xu
Published: November 2021

Osteoporosis (OP) is a common age-related disease characterized by a deterioration of bone mass and structure that predisposes patients to fragility fractures. Pharmaceutical therapies that promote anabolic bone formation in OP patients and OP-induced fracture are needed. We investigated whether a neutralizing antibody against Siglec-15 can simultaneously inhibit bone resorption and stimulate bone formation. We found that the multinucleation of osteoclasts was inhibited in SIGLEC-15 conditional knockout mice and mice undergoing Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody treatment. The secretion of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) mononuclear cells, and bone formation were significantly increased in the SIGLEC-15 conditional knockout mice and antibody-treated mice. The anabolic effect of the Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody on bone formation was blunted in mice with Pdgfb deleted in TRAP+ cells. These findings showed that the anabolic effect of the Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody was mediated by elevating PDGF-BB production of TRAP+ mononuclear cells. To test the therapeutic potential of the Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody, we injected the antibody in an ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic mouse model, which mimics postmenopausal osteoporosis in women, and in two fracture healing models because fracture is the most serious health consequence of osteoporosis. The Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody effectively reduced bone resorption and stimulated bone formation in estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. Of note, the Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody promoted intramembranous and endochondral ossification at the damaged area of cortical bone in fracture healing mouse models. Thus, the Siglec-15 neutralizing antibody shows significant translational potential as a novel therapy for OP and bone fracture.