bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competing native and invasive Anolis lizards exhibit thermal preference plasticity in opposite directions
Authors: Ryan Lucy M. , Gunderson Alex R.
Published: October 2020

Invasive species have emerged as a significant problem in the age of anthropogenic change. Behavior can be key to invasive species success and is strongly affected by temperature. Therefore, knowledge of the temperature dependence of behavior is likely critical to understand invasive species dynamics and their interactions with native species. In this study, we tested for differences in thermal preference plasticity and temperature‐dependent activity levels in a pair of congeneric lizards found in the United States: the invasive Anolis sagrei and the native A. carolinensis. We predicted that A. sagrei would demonstrate greater thermal preference plasticity and would utilize a higher and/or wider range of activity temperatures than A. carolinensis. Both would point to plasticity allowing A. sagrei to behaviorally exploiting thermal conditions that A. carolinensis cannot. We found that both species exhibited plasticity in thermal preference, but in opposite directions: preferred temperatures of A. carolinensis increased with acclimation temperature, while those of A. sagrei decreased. As a result, which species had a higher thermal preference changed with acclimation conditions. We saw no difference in overall field activity rates between the species, but that A. sagrei did tend to be active over a broader range of body temperatures. In sum, we found little evidence that differences in thermal preference plasticity between the species allow A. sagrei to remain active at a higher or broader temperature range than A. carolinensis. Nonetheless, the thermal preference data suggest complementary thermal preferences between the species that could promote microclimatic partitioning, though more work is required to test this idea.
The contributions of climate change and production area expansion to drought risk for maize in China over the last four decades
Authors: Song Yanling , Tian Jinfeng , Linderholm Hans W. , Wang Chunyi , Ou Zhaorong , Chen Deliang
Published: October 2020

Maize is one of China's most important crops and is profoundly sensitive to drought. Using weather and county‐level maize yield data, the drought risk for maize in China was estimated for the period 1971–2010. The results show that drought risk has increased in China over the last 40 years, and that areas experiencing moderate to high drought risk have expanded, particularly in Northeast China. The main reasons for the observed changes are increased drought hazard associated with climate change, and increased exposure of maize to drought due to an expanded production area. Drought risk over all of China increased by 55% in the 2000s compared to the 1970s. While around 93% of the increase in drought risk in the maize production regions is due to increased drought exposure, 7% is attributable to climate change. In Northeast China alone, drought risk increased by 129% from the 1970s to the 2000s, which is the sum of an 86% increase caused by greater drought exposure, associated with expansion of the production area, and a 14% increase driven by climate change. The results indicate that the drought hazard has increased by around 13%, and drought risk has increased by 110% for each 1°C rise in annual mean temperature in Northeast China over the past 40 years. Maize yield losses have increased by around 4% per 1°C increase in annual mean temperature in this region. The sensitivity of maize to drought means that climate change is likely to have significant negative impact on future maize productivity, and China's export and import of maize is likely to be affected.
THE POWER OF AN ABUNDANCE MINDSET FOR CHANGEMAKERS
Authors: Putnam‐Walkerly Kris
Published: October 2020

The author stresses the need for leaders to have an abundance mindset in creating change, particularly in roles of philanthropy. The article begins with three examples of social entrepreneurs adopting an abundance mindset: The Kenya Community Development Foundation, Social Venture Partners India, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Eight behaviors that lead with abundance are you are proactively generous; you have the courage to grow and develop yourself continuously; you are resilient; you embrace inclusion; you believe you deserve the best; you think big; you take prudent risks; and you invest in your capacity and talent, and that of your partners. Within the section on investing in yourself, four areas are explored: capacity, talent, technology, and learning. Within investing in your partners, the areas are take time to build trusting relationships; stick with partners though challenging times; make sufficient investments in infrastructure, organizational capacity, and long‐term planning; and support the competition. When you or the people around you have an abundance mindset, you’ll routinely hear questions like Who are the top experts in the country (or world) who can advise us? Who are the best people we can get and what is the most strategic use of their time?
Multicomponent Polymerization toward Cationic Polymers for Efficient Gene Delivery
Authors: Zheng Nan , Cudjoe Daniel Kwesi , Song Wangze
Published: October 2020

A new class of cationic polymers containing tertiary amine, thioether, and hydroxyl groups are prepared via a catalyst‐free, multicomponent polymerization method using dithiol, formaldehyde, and di‐sec‐amine with a ratio of 1:2:1, to access a library of water‐soluble polymers with well‐defined structures and suitable molecular weights (Mw ranging from 5000 to 8000 Da) in high yields (up to 90%). Such polycations are demonstrated to be promising nonviral gene delivery vectors with high transfection efficiency (up to 3.5‐fold of PEI25k) and low toxicity with multiple functionalities: 1) efficient gene condensation by tertiary amine groups; 2) reactive oxygen species scavenging by thioether groups; and 3) positive charge shielding by hydroxyl groups. Both the thioether and hydroxyl groups are contributed to reduce the cytotoxicity of the polycations by tuning the oxidative stress and preventing the undesired serum binding. The optimized polycations can achieve high transfection efficiency under the serum conditions, indicating the great potential as a nonviral gene delivery vector candidate for clinical application.
Numerical optimisation of chemotherapy dosage under antiangiogenic treatment in the presence of drug resistance
Authors: Bajger Piotr , Bodzioch Mariusz , Foryś Urszula
Published: October 2020

We consider a two‐compartment model of chemotherapy resistant tumour growth under angiogenic signalling. Our model is based on the one proposed by Hahnfeldt et al. (1999), but we divide tumour cells into sensitive and resistant subpopulations. We study the influence of antiangiogenic treatment in combination with chemotherapy. The main goal is to investigate how sensitive are the theoretically optimal protocols to changes in parameters quantifying the interactions between tumour cells in the sensitive and resistant compartments, that is, the competition coefficients and mutation rates, and whether inclusion of an antiangiogenic treatment affects these results. Global existence and positivity of solutions and bifurcations (including bistability and hysteresis) with respect to the chemotherapy dose are studied. We assume that the antiangiogenic agents are supplied indefinitely and at a constant rate. Two optimisation problems are then considered. In the first problem a constant, indefinite chemotherapy dose is optimised to maximise the time needed for the tumour to reach a critical (fatal) volume. It is shown that maximum survival time is generally obtained for intermediate drug dose. Moreover, the competition coefficients have a more visible influence on survival time than the mutation rates. In the second problem, an optimal dosage over a short, 30‐day time period, is found. A novel, explicit running penalty for drug resistance is included in the objective functional. It is concluded that, after an initial full‐dose interval, an administration of intermediate dose is optimal over a broad range of parameters. Moreover, mutation rates play an important role in deciding which short‐term protocol is optimal. These results are independent of whether antiangiogenic treatment is applied or not.
Bariatric surgery outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Wirth Keith , Kizy Scott , Abdelwahab Hisham , Zhang Jianying , Agarwal Santosh , Ikramuddin Sayeed , Leslie Daniel B.
Published: October 2020

Background

The Medicare population is increasing while the prevalence of obesity remains high. Bariatric surgery is the most efficacious treatment of obesity and its comorbidities. The objective of this investigation was to assess trends in utilization, readmission, mortality, and cost of bariatric surgery in the Medicare population.

Methods

Utilizing the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database, patients with clinically severe obesity undergoing laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) from 2011–2015 were identified. Trends in procedure selection, readmissions, mortality, and cost were examined. A multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate factors associated with readmission and mortality was performed.

Results

Of the 73,718 patients identified, 53,949 (73%) of patients were enrolled in Medicare due to disability, 19,191 (26%) due to age, and 578 (<1%) due to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Utilization of SG increased (1% in 2011 to 61% in 2015), while utilization of RYGB (68% to 32%) and LAGB (31% to 1%) decreased. Length of stay (LOS) was highest after RYGB (2.54 days), and lowest after LAGB (1.32 days). LOS decreased from 2.23 days in 2011 to 2.12 days in 2015. Thirty‐day readmissions were 8.24% for the disabled, 5.5% for the elderly, 12.8% with ESRD. Odds of readmission increased with black race, higher body mass index (BMI), and RYGB. Readmission decreased from 8% in 2011 to 7% in 2015. Thirty‐day mortality was 0.22% in the disabled, and 0.28% in the elderly. Odds of 30‐day mortality increased among men, those with higher BMI, some comorbidities, and those who underwent RYGB. Cost of SG decreased while cost of RYGB increased.

Conclusions

Among the Medicare population, an increase in SG while a decrease in RYGB and LAGB utilization was noted from 2011–2015. Readmissions and cost have decreased, while mortality has remained low.
Assessing the potency of environmental regulation in maintaining environmental sustainability in MENA countries: An advanced panel data estimation
Authors: A. Omojolaibi Joseph , P. Nathaniel Solomon
Published: October 2020

Since there is only one planet available for humanity, efforts are being made from different quarters to ensure its sustainability. One of such efforts is the enactment of environmental regulations (ER). The effectiveness of such regulations in mitigating pollution is shrewd in obscurity, especially in developing/emerging economies. This study focuses on the impact of ER, trade, economic growth, and energy consumption on the ecological footprint (EF) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries using advanced panel data econometric techniques that consider heterogeneity and cross‐sectional dependence. Thus, we applied second‐generation unit root tests to explore the unit root properties of the variables. To examine cointegration between the variables, we apply the Westerlund's (Westerlund, Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 2007, 69, 709–748) approach. The empirical results show the presence of cross‐sectional dependence and cointegration between EF and its determinants. Further findings confirm that ER has no significant influence on EF. This suggests that ER in MENA is not yet at a desirable level where it can effectively enhance environmental sustainability. ER contributes to maintaining environmental quality (significantly) only in Bahrain and Israel. Trade, economic growth, and energy consumption increase EF. The causality test reveals that economic growth is actually energy dependent in MENA. The directions for future research have been proposed. The limitations of the study and relevant policy directions are highlighted.
Prevalence and incidence rate of hospital admissions related to medication between 2008 and 2013 in The Netherlands
Authors: Lghoul‐Oulad Saïd Fouzia , Hek Karin , Flinterman Linda E , Herings Ron MC , Warlé‐van Herwaarden Margaretha F , de Bie Sandra , Valkhoff Vera E , Alsma Jelmer , Mosseveld Mees , Vanrolleghem Ann M , Stricker Bruno HCH , Sturkenboom Miriam CJM , De Smet Peter AGM , van den Bemt Patricia MLA
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In 2009 a Dutch guideline was published containing recommendations to reduce Hospital Admissions Related to Medications (HARMs). This study aims to examine time‐trends of HARMs and their potential preventability between 2008 and 2013 in The Netherlands.

Methods

A retrospective prevalence study was conducted using the Dutch PHARMO Database Network. A semi‐automated pre‐selection was used to make a crude identification of possible HARMs of which four samples were selected. These were independently assessed with respect to causality and potential preventability by a physician and pharmacist. The results were stratified by age into 18‐64 years and 65 years and older. For these groups the net prevalences and incidence rates of HARMs and potentially preventable HARMs were calculated for the years 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Results

Four samples of 467 (2008), 447 (2009), 446 (2011) and 408 (2013) admissions were assessed. The net prevalence of HARMs in the 18‐64 years group was approximately four times smaller compared to the older group with a mean prevalence of 2.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]:2.4%‐3.0%) and 10.2% (95%CI: 9.7%‐10.7%) respectively. The potential preventability was 25.1% (18.4%‐31.8%) and 48.3% (95%CI: 44.8%‐51.8%), respectively. The prevalence of HARMs in both groups did not change significantly between 2008 and 2013 with 2.4% (95%CI: 1.9%‐3.0%) and 10.0% (95%CI: 9.0%‐11.0%) in 2008 and 3.1% (2.7%‐3.5%) and 10.4% (95%CI: 9.4%‐11.4%) in 2013, respectively.

Conclusion

Despite efforts to reduce HARMs, the prevalence did not decrease over time. Additional measures are therefore necessary, especially in the elderly population.
AuSi molecule revisited: IOTC/CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations
Authors: Barysz Maria , Černušák Ivan , Kellö Vladimir , Neogrády Pavel
Published: October 2020

The results of theoretical calculations for the ground and low‐lying excited states of the AuSi molecule are presented. Calculations were carried out using the spin‐free relativistic infinite‐order two‐component (IOTC) Hamiltonian in conjunction with the multistate CASPT2 method. For comparison, the ground state was also calculated using the IOTC‐CCSD(T) method. The spin‐orbit coupling is introduced via the restricted active space state interaction method with the use of the atomic mean‐field SO integrals. The results are compared with the available experimental and theoretical results. The spectroscopic parameters derived from the potential energy curves are presented. The results obtained suggest that the experimental data should be reconsidered.
Rapid identification and discrimination of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains via matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu Xin , Su Taojunfeng , Hsu Yen‐Michael S. , Yu Hua , Yang He Sarina , Jiang Li , Zhao Zhen
Published: October 2020

Rationale

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of major clinical pathogens responsible for both hospital‐ and community‐acquired infections worldwide. A delay in targeted antibiotic treatment contributes to longer hospitalization stay, higher costs, and increasing in‐hospital mortality. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) has been integrated into the routine workflow for microbial identification over the past decade, and it has also shown promising functions in the detection of bacterial resistance. Therefore, we describe a rapid MALDI‐TOF MS‐based methodology for MRSA screening with machine‐learning algorithms.

Methods

A total of 452 clinical S. aureus isolates were included in this study, of which 194 were MRSA and 258 were methicillin‐sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). The mass‐to‐charge ratio (m/z) features from MRSA and MSSA strains were binned and selected through Lasso regression. These features were then used to train a non‐linear support vector machine (SVM) with radial basis function (RBF) kernels to evaluate the discrimination performance. The classifiers' accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were evaluated and compared with those from the random forest (RF) model.

Results

A total of 2601 unique spectral peaks of all isolates were identified and 38 m/z features were selected for the classifying model. The AUCs of the non‐linear RBF‐SVM model and the RF model were 0.89 and 0.87, respectively, and the accuracy ranged between 0.86 (RBF‐SVM) and 0.82 (RF).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that MALDI‐TOF MS coupled with machine‐learning algorithms could be used to develop a rapid and easy‐to‐use method to discriminate MRSA from MSSA. Considering that this method is easy to implement in routine microbiology laboratories, it suggests a cost‐effective and time‐efficient alternative to conventional resistance detection in the future to improve clinical treatment.
A case of personalized and precision medicine: Pharmacometabolomic applications to rare cancer, microbiological investigation, and therapy
Authors: Cristoni Simone , Bernardi Luigi Rossi , Malvandi Amir Mohammad , Larini Martina , Longhi Ermanno , Sortino Francesco , Conti Matteo , Pantano Nicola , Puccio Giovanni
Published: October 2020

Rationale

Advances in metabolomics, together with consolidated genetic approaches, have opened the way for investigating the health of patients using a large number of molecules simultaneously, thus providing firm scientific evidence for personalized medicine and consequent interventions. Metabolomics is an ideal approach for investigating specific biochemical alterations occurring in rare clinical situations, such as those caused by rare associations between comorbidities and immunosuppression.

Methods

Metabolomic database matching enables clear identification of molecular factors associated with a metabolic disorder and can provide a rationale for elaborating personalized therapeutic protocols. Mass spectrometry (MS) forms the basis of metabolomics and uses mass‐to‐charge ratios for metabolite identification. Here, we used an MS–based approach to diagnose and develop treatment options in the clinical case of a patient afflicted with a rare disease further complicated by immunosuppression. The patient's data were analyzed using proprietary databases, and a personalized and efficient therapeutic protocol was consequently elaborated.

Results

The patient exhibited significant alterations in homocysteine:methionine and homocysteine:thiodiglycol acid plasma concentration ratios, and these were associated with low immune system function. This led to cysteine concentration deficiency causing extreme oxidative stress. Plasmatic thioglycolic acid concentrations were initially altered and were used for therapeutic follow‐up and to evaluate cysteine levels.

Conclusions

An MS–based pharmacometabolomics approach was used to define a personalized protocol in a clinical case of rare peritoneal carcinosis with confounding immunosuppression. This personalized protocol reduced both oxidative stress and resistance to antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
An active endoscope with small sweep volume that preserves image orientation for arthroscopic surgery
Authors: Ryu Geunwoong , Kim Jeongryul , Park Chulmin , Kim Keri
Published: October 2020

Background

Microsurgery is generally performed in narrow spaces with limited movement. Endoscopes that allow for angle changes have been developed using elastic materials, but they require a large bending space. We propose a new endoscope with a small sweep volume for angle changes.

Methods

We fabricated a prototype with a thumb‐operated joystick. The image sensor is attached to the tooltip. The image signal is input to a motor control board which computes inverse kinematics and transforms it into joint angle values. Each axis is positioned according to these values.

Results

The tooltip sweeping volume was 104 mm3. Surgeons at the Asan Medical Center used our endoscope to obtain images of the biceps tendon and subscapularis joints of a cadaver.

Conclusion

Currently, a low‐resolution image sensor is attached to endoscope tooltips. In the future, we will develop a high‐resolution image module equipped with an ultra‐small complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor.
Pluripotent stem cell-based screening identifies CUDC-907 as an effective compound for restoring the in vitro phenotype of Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome
Authors: Kase Naoya , Terashima Madoka , Ohta Akira , Niwa Akira , Honda-Ozaki Fumiko , Kawasaki Yuri , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Kanazawa Nobuo , Saito Megumu K.
Published: October 2020

Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome (NNS) is an autoinflammatory disorder caused by a homozygous mutations in the PSMB8 gene. The administration of systemic corticosteroids is partially effective, but continuous treatment causes severe side effects. We previously established a pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived NNS disease model that reproduces several inflammatory phenotypes, including the overproduction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interferon gamma-induced protein-10 (IP-10). Here we performed high-throughput compound screening (HTS) using this PSC-derived NNS model to find potential therapeutic candidates and identified CUDC-907 as an effective inhibitor of the release of MCP-1 and IP-10. Short-term treatment of CUDC-907 did not induce cell death within therapeutic concentrations and was also effective on primary patient cells. Further analysis indicated that the inhibitory effect was post-transcriptional. These findings suggest that HTS with PSC-derived disease models is useful for finding drug candidates for autoinflammatory diseases.
Improved Stability and Photothermal Performance of Polydopamine‐Modified Fe3O4 Nanocomposites for Highly Efficient Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Guided Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Li Bo , Gong Tingting , Xu Nannan , Cui Fengzhi , Yuan Biying , Yuan Qinghai , Sun Hongzan , Wang Lei , Liu Jianhua
Published: October 2020

Magnetic nanomaterials are a promising class of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, their poor stability and low relaxivity are major challenges hindering their clinical applications. In this study, magnetic theranostic nanoagents based on polydopamine‐modified Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@PDA) nanocomposites are fabricated for MRI‐guided photothermal therapy (PTT) cancer treatments. Their high transverse relaxivity of 337.8 mM−1 s−1 makes these Fe3O4@PDA nanocomposites a promising T2‐weighted MRI contrast agent for cancer diagnosis and image‐guided cancer therapy. Due to the good photothermal effect of polydopamine (PDA), the tumors of 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice are completely excised by PTT. Most importantly, the PDA shell also improves the stability of the Fe3O4@PDA nanocomposites, which contributes to their excellent, long‐term performance in MRI and PTT applications. Their good stability, high T2 relaxivity, robust biocompatibility, and satisfactory treatment effect give these Fe3O4@PDA nanocomposites great potential for use in cancer theranostics.
Predicting change in newly created files in a software product line project
Authors: Alshehri Yasser Ali
Published: October 2020

At the beginning of the testing phase and before the deployment phase of a project's development cycle, we need to predict files with a high chance of change. Software products are always prone to change due to several reasons, including fixing errors or improvements. In this work, we used the Eclipse (releases from 2.0 to 3.5) to investigate how prediction models can perform when learning from a release and predicting in the subsequent one, which contains new files that models have not seen. We compared the performance of these models with models that are trained and tested on the same release. We found no differences between predicting the same release or subsequent release on two pre Europa releases. Predicting change in newly created files helps improve maintenance planning for software project managers and reduce cost. It will also help to enhance the quality of software by improving the practices of developers. This study used the Adaptive Boost classifier with the decision tree J48 algorithm and combined it with the re‐sampling method. We find this to be better than using a meta classifier alone or combine the re‐sampling with the standard classification. We compared our results with related works and found that our results are outperforming.
Benzo[a]pyrene exposure and overcrowding stress impacts anxiety‐like behavior and impairs learning and memory in adult zebrafish, Danio rerio
Authors: Aparna Sai , Patri Manorama
Published: October 2020

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a prototype of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ubiquitous environmental pollutant, alters neurobehavioral responses in aquatic organisms like zebrafish. Increasing organic load on water bodies causes population explosion leading to overcrowding (OC) stress. The effect of OC stress on neurobehavioral alterations remains unclear. The objective of our study is to elucidate the impact of OC stress on behavioral alterations and neurodegenerative phenotypes on exposure to B[a]P in zebrafish. We demonstrate the effects of OC stress (12 fish/L) on acute waterborne exposure to B[a]P (0.2 mg L−1) in adult wild zebrafish. Anxiety‐like behavior, learning, and memory impairment were assayed by novel tank diving test, light/dark preference test, and T‐maze test. Oxidative stress bio‐markers were assayed along with histopathological changes in zebrafish brain. OC stress significantly impaired the learning ability and mood behavior by increasing the number of transition and time spent in the alter zones. Increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl formation with significant decreased catalase activity and reduced glutathione level showed oxidative stress on exposure to OC stress and B[a]P. Pyknotic neuronal counts dramatically increased in periventricular grey zone of optic tectum brain region of zebrafish. Our findings showed that OC stress modulates the B[a]P‐induced behavioral alterations causing learning and memory deficiency with histopathological changes in adult zebrafish brain. OC stress may act as an early risk factor for the eventual development of cognitive impairments and B[a]P exposure plays a key role in mediating both the facilitating and impairing actions of OC stress in memory processes.
Truthfulness and Affect via Digital Mediation in Audiovisual Storytelling
Authors: Tseng Chiao-I
Published: October 2020

This chapter investigates different ways in which the film techniques of digitally mediated images—such as found footage, diegetic camera, and computer screen—achieve story truthfulness and affective engagement in the viewer’s narrative interpretation process. The pursuit of truthful storytelling is to demonstrate objective facts, while mediated images in film are predominantly subjective. The chapter starts by reviewing the perennial paradox of two seemingly mutually exclusive narrative functions and then tackles the paradox by proposing a multi-leveled framework, synthesizing semiotic conceptualization and cognitive research findings. It also analyzes the various forms of digital mediated images in films over the last two decades and sheds light on how the functions of truthfulness and affective engagement can be closely intertwined rather than in conflict.
Language in Digital Motion: From ABCs to Intermediality and Why This Matters for Language Learning
Authors: Lotherington Heather
Published: October 2020

Linguistic communication has moved beyond simple alphabetic encoding to multimedia design, challenging the fit of structural theories of language to digital communication. This transition is barely evident in mobile language learning contexts where top-selling apps present language as a linguistic structure to be drilled, ironically bypassing the complex communicative potential of smart devices. This chapter overviews changing language norms from language as structure to language within multimodality and comparatively discusses multimodality from a social semiotics paradigm nested in linguistic theory and from Elleström’s intermediality paradigm. To illustrate how one could conceptualize multimodality from a perspective decentred from linguistics and leveraged to explain language use in multimedia contexts, the author examines two novel features of digital communication:emojiandconversational digital agents.
The New Trend: The Word Plus the Image
Authors: Pae Hye K.
Published: October 2020

This chapter discusses the new trend of co-use of words and images in digitally-mediated text as well as its impact on our cognition. The function of the left and right hemispheres of the brain is first reviewed. Next, how images are processed, compared to words, is reviewed. Reading words recruits different neural networks than those of “reading” images. Literacy acquisition changes neuronal pathways in the brain, as evidenced by the research findings of pre-literate and literate subjects. Based on the suggestive evidence, script relativity is revisited and highlighted. Research evidence from the comparison of image processing and word processing as well as the comparison of how literate and illiterate subjects process objects and faces indirectly supportscript relativity.
Neurolinguistic Evidence for Script Relativity
Authors: Pae Hye K.
Published: October 2020

This chapter reviews a vast amount of neuroimaging studies of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean in comparison to L2 English, using the neuonral recycling hypothesis (Dehaene, 2009) and the (writing) system accommodation hypothesis (Perfetti & Liu, 2005) as theoretical frameworks. In order to understand the basic brain network associated with reading, the major reading circuits found among typical readers are first reviewed. The findings of neuroimaging studies of reading in alphabetic scripts are reviewed and then moved on to the nonalphabetic Chinese and Japanese scripts, compared to L2 English. Although reviewed studies were not carried out to directly test script relativity, evidence converges on biological unity, script diversity, and cognitive diversity, which points toward script relativity.
Simple model for large CP violation in charm decays, B-physics anomalies, muon g − 2 and dark matter
Authors: Calibbi Lorenzo , Li Tianjun , Li Ying , Zhu Bin
Published: October 2020

Abstract

We present a minimal extension of the Standard Model that can simultaneously account for the anomalies in semi-leptonic B meson decays and the muon g − 2, give large CP violation in charm decays (up to the value recently measured by LHCb), and provide thermal-relic dark matter, while evading all constraints set by other flavour observables, LHC searches, and dark matter experiments. This is achieved by introducing only four new fields: a vectorlike quark, a vectorlike lepton, and two scalar fields (a singlet and a doublet) that mix due to the electroweak symmetry breaking and provide the dark matter candidate. The singlet-doublet mixing induces chirally-enhanced dipole transitions, which are crucial for the explanation of the muon g − 2 discrepancy and the large charm CP violation, and allows to achieve the observed dark matter density in wide regions of the parameter space.
Collapsing domain walls in the two-Higgs-doublet model and deep insights from the EDM
Authors: Chen Ning , Li Tong , Teng Zhaolong , Wu Yongcheng
Published: October 2020

Abstract

We study the domain wall solutions in the general two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) with a CP-violating phase. The 2HDM with the spontaneouse CP violation is found to have domain wall solutions whose tensions are $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(106) GeV3, which are excluded by the Zel’dovich-Kobzarev-Okun bound. With the explicit CP-violating (CPV) terms as the so-called biased term in the scalar potential, domain walls can collapse in the early Universe. The sizes of the explicit CP violation can be constrained from the Big Bang nucleosynthesis. This constraint is converted to the CPV mixing of αc, and is mostly sensitive to the mass splittings between two heavy neutral Higgs bosons. We estimate the possible gravitational wave signals and the electric dipole moment (EDM) predictions due to the domain wall collapsing. It turns out that the peak spectrum of the GW from the domain wall collapsing cannot be probed in any future program. In contrast, the untenable regions with very tiny explicit CPV parameter in the Higgs potential has been partially excluded by the latest electron EDM measurements at the ACME-II and will be further confirmed or excluded by the future ACME-III projection.
Asymptotic symmetries of Yang-Mills fields in Hamiltonian formulation
Authors: Tanzi Roberto , Giulini Domenico
Published: October 2020

Abstract

We investigate the asymptotic symmetry group of the free SU(N )-Yang-Mills theory using the Hamiltonian formalism. We closely follow the strategy of Henneaux and Troessaert who successfully applied the Hamiltonian formalism to the case of gravity and electrodynamics, thereby deriving the respective asymptotic symmetry groups of these theories from clear-cut first principles. These principles include the minimal assumptions that are necessary to ensure the existence of Hamiltonian structures (phase space, symplectic form, differentiable Hamiltonian) and, in case of Poincaré invariant theories, a canonical action of the Poincaré group. In the first part of the paper we show how these requirements can be met in the non-abelian SU(N )-Yang-Mills case by imposing suitable fall-off and parity conditions on the fields. We observe that these conditions admit neither non-trivial asymptotic symmetries nor non-zero global charges. In the second part of the paper we discuss possible gradual relaxations of these conditions by following the same strategy that Henneaux and Troessaert had employed to remedy a similar situation in the electromagnetic case. Contrary to our expectation and the findings of Henneaux and Troessaert for the abelian case, there seems to be no relaxation that meets the requirements of a Hamiltonian formalism and allows for non-trivial asymptotic symmetries and charges. Non-trivial asymptotic symmetries and charges are only possible if either the Poincaré group fails to act canonically or if the formal expression for the symplectic form diverges, i.e. the form does not exist. This seems to hint at a kind of colour-confinement built into the classical Hamiltonian formulation of non-abelian gauge theories.
Investigations on the Triboelectrostatic Charging Behaviour and the Triboelectrostatic Sortability of Different Oxides
Authors: Gehringer Sabrina , Luckeneder Christoph , Flachberger Helmut
Published: October 2020

In the course of this study, several test series were carried out to investigate the triboelectrostatic charging behaviour of various oxides. At the beginning, the influence of the degree of aging and the influence of the sample storage on the charging efficiency of the oxide samples was analysed. For this purpose, two oxide samples were stored under different environmental conditions and then sorted using triboelectrostatic belt separation. Results of a previous series of tests showed that an increased feed temperature has a negative effect on the charging behaviour of calcium and magnesium oxide. Therefore, the effects of a reduced feed temperature were also examined. For these experiments, samples were stored at 8 °C under exclusion of air. In addition, a series of tests was carried out with a gradual increase of the voltage on the triboelectrostatic belt separator in order to determine possible differences in the charging efficiency of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide and to subsequently use them for the separation.
Effect of Statin Therapy on the Plasma Concentrations of Retinol, Alpha-Tocopherol and Coenzyme Q10 in Children with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Motkowski Radosław , Maciejczyk Mateusz , Hryniewicka Marta , Karpińska Joanna , Mikołuć Bożena
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) requires early treatment. However, statins, which are regarded the first-line therapy, have an influence on redox balance. Antioxidant vitamins are important for many metabolic processes in the developing body. There are few data available on the long-term safety of statin use in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of statin treatment in children with FH on plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins: retinol, alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10.

Methods

The first study group consisted of 13 children aged 10–18 years treated with simvastatin for at least 6 months, and the second group comprised 13 age- and sex-matched children with hypercholesterolemia, in whom pharmacological treatment had not been applied yet. Analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled with a MS detector.

Results

The analysis did not reveal significant differences in the concentration of retinol, alpha-tocopherol or coenzyme Q10 between the studied groups. The adjustment of the concentrations of the vitamins to the cholesterol level also indicated no significant differences. We found no deficits in antioxidant vitamins in patients treated with statins, or any risk of adverse effects associated with an increase in their concentration.

Conclusion

There is no rationale for additional supplementation using antioxidant vitamins or modification of low-fat and low-cholesterol diet in pediatric patients treated with statins.
Improvement in early continence after introduction of periurethral suspension stitch in robotic prostatectomy
Authors: Aarsæther Erling , Roaldsen Marius , Knutsen Tore , Patel Hiten R. , Soltun Bård
Published: October 2020

Early urinary incontinence remains a major source of morbidity for patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the introduction of a suspension stitch would improve early urinary continence rates in patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer at our department. We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy with either suspension (n = 119) or figure-of-eight (n = 48) stitching of the dorsal venous complex. The patients submitted EPIC-26 questionnaires before surgery and after 3 and 18 months, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was run to determine the effect of the suspension stitch, nerve-sparing, posterior reconstruction, prostate volume, age and body mass index on early continence rate. The odds ratio of experiencing urinary leaks was 2.1 times higher (95% CI 1.0–4.3) in the figure-of-eight stitch group compared to the suspension stitch group 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). The early urinary continence rate was 61.3% in the suspension stitch group compared to 35.4% in the figure-of-eight stitch group (p < 0.005). There were no differences between the groups 18 months post-prostatectomy (90.7% in the suspension stitch group versus 81.4% in the non-suspension stitch group, p = 0.1). Ordinal regression analysis identified the suspension stitch, bilateral nerve-sparing and body mass index as independent predictors of urinary continence at 3 months. The association between urinary continence and either unilateral nerve-sparing, posterior reconstruction, prostate volume or age did not reach statistical significance. Our results suggest that the suspension stitch improved early urinary continence following robotic prostatectomy.
Quadric SFDI for Laplacian Discretisation in Lagrangian Meshless Methods
Authors: Yan Shiqiang , Ma Q. W. , Wang Jinghua
Published: October 2020

In the Lagrangian meshless (particle) methods, such as the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method and meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method based on Rankine source solution (MLPG_R), the Laplacian discretisation is often required in order to solve the governing equations and/or estimate physical quantities (such as the viscous stresses). In some meshless applications, the Laplacians are also needed as stabilisation operators to enhance the pressure calculation. The particles in the Lagrangian methods move following the material velocity, yielding a disordered (random) particle distribution even though they may be distributed uniformly in the initial state. Different schemes have been developed for a direct estimation of second derivatives using finite difference, kernel integrations and weighted/moving least square method. Some of the schemes suffer from a poor convergent rate. Some have a better convergent rate but require inversions of high order matrices, yielding high computational costs. This paper presents a quadric semi-analytical finite-difference interpolation (QSFDI) scheme, which can achieve the same degree of the convergent rate as the best schemes available to date but requires the inversion of significant lower-order matrices, i.e. 3 × 3 for 3D cases, compared with 6 × 6 or 10 × 10 in the schemes with the best convergent rate. Systematic patch tests have been carried out for either estimating the Laplacian of given functions or solving Poisson’s equations. The convergence, accuracy and robustness of the present schemes are compared with the existing schemes. It will show that the present scheme requires considerably less computational time to achieve the same accuracy as the best schemes available in literatures, particularly for estimating the Laplacian of given functions.
Analyse von zirkulären RNAs mithilfe der rolling circle amplification
Authors: Boss Marcel , Arenz Christoph
Published: October 2020

Circular RNA (circRNA) represents a group of long non-coding RNAs with specific biological functions. The investigation of this class of RNAs is very challenging as they are often poorly expressed and in the simultaneous presence of their linear counterparts. Rolling circle amplification (RCA) has been little used so far for this application, but it makes ideal use of the specific properties of circRNAs. Moreover, it can be combined with all other common PCR methods.
Arsen in Grundwasser und Reis — Ursachen und Konsequenzen
Authors: Joss Hanna , Muehe E. Marie , Kappler Andreas
Published: October 2020

The toxic metalloid arsenic (As) is present in the environment often associated with iron(III) oxide minerals. Arsenic can be mobilized into groundwater by iron(III)-reducing, and thus, mineral-dissolving bacteria. We investigate in situ natural organic matter and methane as electron donors fueling microbial iron(III) reduction, the removal of As by iron oxides in drinking water filters, and the effect of climate change on redox processes in the rice rhizosphere and on uptake of As into rice.
Export von Gefahrgut: Helicobacter pylori und sein CagA-Protein
Authors: Lettl Clara , Fischer Wolfgang
Published: October 2020

Pathogenic bacteria often utilize type IV secretion systems to interact with host cells and to modify their microenvironment in a favourable way. The human pathogen Helicobacter pylori produces such a system to inject only a single protein, CagA, into gastric cells, but this injection represents a major risk factor for gastric cancer development. Here, we discuss the unusual structure of the Cag secretion nanomachine and other features that make it unique among bacterial protein transporters.
Sporenbildung bei Bacillus subtilis: Masse oder Klasse?
Authors: Bischofs Ilka
Published: October 2020

Recent timelapse microscopy studies suggest that endospore forming bacteria encounter a quantity-quality tradeoff: Bacillus subtilis can either make more or better spores. Natural isolates employ different life-cycle strategies that are beneficial under different revival conditions. These findings have implications for our understanding of the ecology and evolution of sporulating bacteria and their use in biotechnological applications.
Multi-Enzymsystem zur Herstellung eines alternativen Zuckersirups
Authors: Lutz-Wahl Sabine , Pross Eva , Hinrichs Jörg , Fischer Lutz
Published: October 2020

Energy-rich foods lead to an increase of overweight people in our societies. Mainly the fat and sugar content in foods is responsible for this progress. However, both components are very important for the taste and acceptance of foods. Thus, the abundant available lactose will be enzymatically modified by using the enzymes β-galactosidase, L-arabinose isomerase and glucose isomerase in order to generate a new natural sugar syrup. The new sugar mixture will be much sweeter than lactose.
Neue Möglichkeiten für die Strukturbestimmung von Membranproteinen
Authors: Gewering Theresa , Möller Arne
Published: October 2020

Membrane proteins establish the connection between the outside and the inside of a cell. Even though 30 percent of proteins in a cell are membrane associated, their structural data is strongly underrepresented due to the high flexibility and low purification yield. The resolution revolution in cryo-EM opened up new opportunities to solve structures of dynamic membrane proteins that can only be purified in small quantities.
Development of a Middle Bronze Age (1900–1500 cal BC) house at the site of Százhalombatta-Földvár, Hungary: detecting choice of materials by the means of archaeological thin section soil micromorphology and phytolith analysis
Authors: Kovács Gabriella , Pető Ákos , Vicze Magdolna
Published: October 2020

Százhalombatta-Földvár Bronze Age tell settlement is one of the most extensively studied sites of Hungary. Interdisciplinary approach is one of the key factors in understanding the past here. Therefore, a range of natural scientific methods are applied, including thin section soil micromorphology and phytolith analysis. The high resolution of these techniques is used to add details that are impossible via traditional archaeological means. In this paper, we aim to look at decision-making in choices of construction materials. A Middle Bronze Age house (ID 3147), belonging to the so-called Vatya Culture, was sampled to investigate the used materials, the building techniques and space use. Earthen floors, clay floor, wall and hearth material are under the microscope for a better understanding of Bronze Age construction and everyday life. Micro fragments are traced to investigate space use and activities inside the house. It is also our intention to further test the conjoint application of the abovementioned methods to add data and encourage work between the experts of the two fields as there is only a handful of such studies available.